Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hampton, South Carolina 29913
Sunday, March 17, 1996 9:05 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot obtained weather information from a television weather report before departure. While en route, he encountered heavy rain, hail, and high winds. He executed a precautionary landing in a field. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered soft terrain and nosed over.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper planning/decision and selection of unsuitable terrain for a precautionary landing. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's failure to use a preflight briefing service, the adverse weather conditions, and soft terrain in the precautionary landing area.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/17/1996
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 905
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City HAMPTON
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29913
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
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 914 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID AGS
Elevation of weather observation facility 145
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 45
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 100
Intensity of Precipitation Heavy
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 6000
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 17 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1245
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:54AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number CFPVE
NTSB Number MIA96LA101
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 SUMMERFELDT
Aircraft Model THORP T-18
Aircraft Series Identifier THORP T-18
Aircraft Serial Number 91
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Foreign 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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 27 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 80
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BRIAN M. SUMMERFELDT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 960 RIPLEY CRESCENT
Aircraft Owner City OSHAWA
Aircraft Owner State OF
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 00000
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 No
Departure Airport Code 23J
Departure City JACKSONVILLE
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 705
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 88J
Destination City ALLENDALE
Destination State SC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --