Hummel Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Saluda, Virginia 23149
Thursday, March 14, 1996 16:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that there was a partial loss of engine power shortly after the airplane lifted off. The airplane would not climb, so he elected to land on the remaining runway. In his attempt to avoid lights at the end of the runway, the pilot stalled the airplane approximately ten feet above the surface. The airplane impacted the runway in a steep nose down attitude, then '...rolled over onto it's back.' Postaccident investigation revealed that the #1 spark plug failed an electrical function test. The pilot stated that the spark plug operated normally under low load conditions, but '...[stopped] under full load.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a partial loss of engine power due to spark plug failure, and the pilot's evasive maneuver to avoid lights at the end of the runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/14/1996
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1615
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City SALUDA
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 23149
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HUMMEL FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID W75
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 30
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1547 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 201
Weather Observation Facility ID PHF
Elevation of weather observation facility 43
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 11000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 474
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 15 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:53AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N32495
NTSB Number IAD96LA049
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 KITFOX
Aircraft Model IV-1200
Aircraft Series Identifier IV-1200
Aircraft Serial Number LCU 128
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 19 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 14
Airframe Hours 123
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ARTHUR W. FARMER
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 631 BOX 209
Aircraft Owner City DELTAVILLE
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 23043
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 W75
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone EST
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 --
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 18
Runway Length 2200
Runway Width 45
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --