None Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Townsville, North Carolina 27584
Tuesady, August 23, 1994 18:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF FROM A PRIVATE, GRASS AIRSTRIP. HE REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, A BEE OR WASP FLEW INTO THE COCKPIT, WHICH CAUSED HIM TO CHANGE HIS TAKEOFF PATTERN. HE PULLED THE AIRCRAFT UP, AND LOST AIRSPEED. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT, AND IMPACTED A TREE. THE ENGINE REMAINED RUNNING AFTER THE ACCIDENT, WITH THE AIRCRAFT LODGED IN THE TREE. THE PILOT'S MEDICAL CERTIFICATE HAD BEEN REVOKED BECAUSE OF CORONARY HEART DISEASE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT REGISTERED, AND NO MAINTENANCE RECORDS WERE LOCATED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/23/1994
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1855
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City TOWNSVILLE
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 27584
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport NONE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 400
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1950 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 205
Weather Observation Facility ID RDU
Elevation of weather observation facility 437
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1172
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 26 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 850
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:57AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number NONE
NTSB Number ATL94LA164
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ADVANCE AVIATION
Aircraft Model BUCCANEER II
Aircraft Series Identifier BUCCANEER
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Not Registered
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DICKERSON, WILLIAM L.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3921 COLE MILL ROAD
Aircraft Owner City DURHAM
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27712
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DICKERSON, WILLIAM L.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 3921 COLE MILL ROAD
Operator City DURHAM
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 27712
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1855
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --