Fairview Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Landrum, South Carolina 29356
Sunday, May 31, 1992 14:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF THE HOME BUILT AIRCRAFT WAS TAKING OFF FROM A GRASS RUNWAY. ON THE INITIAL CLIMB, HE OBTAINED AN AIRSPEED OF 45 KNOTS, AND AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 40 FEET AGL. WHEN HE COULD NOT CLIMB HIGHER THAN 40 FEET, HE ELECTED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE ON THE GRASS. HE RETARDED THE THROTTLE, AND THE NOSE DROPPED SHARPLY. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE, RESULTING IN STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. A POST CRASH INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND NONE WAS REPORTED BY THE PILOT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FLOWN 4 HOURS SINCE NEW; THIS WAS ALSO THE PILOT'S TOTAL FLIGHT TIME IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPT. FACTORS WERE THE INADEQUATE CLIMB CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/31/1992
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City LANDRUM
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29356
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FAIRVIEW
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 33A
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 1047
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1451 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID GSP
Elevation of weather observation facility 972
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 14
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) 384
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 5 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46546
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:54PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N523MH
NTSB Number ATL92LA114
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 HOPKINS, R. AND M.
Aircraft Model PROTECH PT-2
Aircraft Series Identifier PROTECH PT
Aircraft Serial Number PT 1093
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 4
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HOPKINS, RICHARD G.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 523 HWY 9 NORTH
Aircraft Owner City MILL SPRING
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28756
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HOPKINS, RICHARD G.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 523 HWY 9 NORTH
Operator City MILL SPRING
Operator State NC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 28756
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 33A
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone EDT
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 Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 2774
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --