Montgomery County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Star, North Carolina 27356
Wednesday, December 2, 1998 14:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he performed a short field approach, had completed his flare with his main wheels on the runway when, upon lowering the nose wheel to the runway the airplane veered off the left side. The excursion continued into the grass for about 100 feet until collision with trees. Examination of the runway by an FAA Inspector revealed that tire skid marks showed at least three separate touchdowns, and that the first touchdown was with the nose wheel only. Postcrash examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions that would cause directional control difficulties.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the pilot to use proper short-field landing procedure, resulting in an extended flare and touchdown by the nose wheel and right main wheel simultaneously, and the subsequent loss of directional control and collision with trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/2/1998
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City STAR
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 27356
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 43A
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 628
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1355 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID SOP
Elevation of weather observation facility 461
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
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 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) 1460
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 2 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1510
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2001 1:57PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4789V
NTSB Number MIA99LA040
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 Bellanca
Aircraft Model 17-30
Aircraft Series Identifier 17-30
Aircraft Serial Number 30079
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 1 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 33
Airframe Hours 2578
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CAROLINA INVESTIGATIVE SVC., I
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1201 AVERSBORO RD. STE 200
Aircraft Owner City GARNER
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27529
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ROBERT E. HILL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 420 GRANT LANE
Operator City CLAYTON
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 27520
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 JNX
Departure City SMITHFIELD
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 43A
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 23 2001 1:57PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 20
Runway Length 3500
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --