Ingalls Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hot Springs, Virginia 24445
Monday, May 6, 1996 11:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the weight and balance calculations, preflight inspection, engine start, and engine run-up were completed satisfactorily. The aircraft lifted off at about 80 knots, but the stall warning horn sounded. The pilot lowered the nose and retracted the landing gear, but the stall warning horn continued to sound and the airplane felt '...mushy.' He stated that he was running out of runway, so he reduced the power to idle and landed. The airplane settled back onto the runway with the gear in the retracted position, and came to rest in the grassy area 600 feet off the departure end of the runway. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction, and that the reported winds at the time of the accident were out of 260 degrees at 12 to 15 knots, and wind gusts to 25 knots. He also stated that the accident could have been prevented if there was wind shear detecting equipment at the airport to alert pilots of the wind conditions during takeoff and landing operations. The field elevation of the departure airport was 3,792 feet MSL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to attain adequate aircraft speed during takeoff. Related factors were the density altitude and gusty wind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/6/1996
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City HOT SPRINGS
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 24445
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport INGALLS FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HSP
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 3792
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1045 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 265
Weather Observation Facility ID LWB
Elevation of weather observation facility 2303
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 4
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1953
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 7 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:00AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N12JE
NTSB Number IAD96LA071
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech
Aircraft Model A36
Aircraft Series Identifier A36
Aircraft Serial Number E-2961
Certified Max Gross Weight 3780
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 29 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 54
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOSEPH M. EWAYS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 127 DEBORAH DR
Aircraft Owner City WYOMISSING HILL
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19610
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 HSP
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RDG
Destination City READING
Destination State PA
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 24
Runway Length 5601
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --