Chataqua County/Jamestown Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jamestown, New York 14702
Monday, July 20, 1998 17:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot/builder began the takeoff roll on runway 25 in his experimental home-built airplane with a right crosswind that gusted to 18 knots. The pilot reported that after rotation the airplane began an uncommanded left turn that he could not control with the aileron. The airplane continued left and the airspeed fluctuated between 20 and 40 knots throughout the descending turn. The airplane impacted the ground in a left skidding turn on the south side of runway 25. After the accident, the pilot reported there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane and that the accident could have been avoided by lifting off at a higher airspeed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to obtain proper airspeed and his subsequent loss of directional control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/20/1998
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1745
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City JAMESTOWN
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14702
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CHATAQUA COUNTY/JAMESTOWN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID JHW
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 1720
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1759 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID JHW
Elevation of weather observation facility 1724
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7500
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 18
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1898
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 20 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1801
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:37AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3546V
NTSB Number IAD98LA082
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 Miehl
Aircraft Model TEAM HI-MAX-1700R
Aircraft Series Identifier TEAM HI-MA
Aircraft Serial Number 001
Certified Max Gross Weight 560
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 29 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 53
Airframe Hours 53
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVID J. MIEHL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 25169 E SPRING ROAD
Aircraft Owner City SPRINGBORO
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 16435
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 JHW
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1740
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PVT
Destination City SPRINGBORO
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 25
Runway Length 5299
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --