Craig Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jacksonville, Florida 32225
Saturday, April 27, 1991 12:42 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WITNESSES STATED ENG DID NOT SOUND AS IF IT WAS PRODUCING FULL POWER ON TAKEOFF. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENG QUIT. AS THE PLT ATTEMPTED A FORCED LANDING ON AN ALLEY THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN HARD IN A RIGHT SLIP. THE ACFT THEN BOUNCED INTO THE AIR, TRAVELED 80 FEET, COLLIDED WITH A TELEPHONE POLE, AND CAME TO REST. AFTER THE ACCIDENT A LARGE AMOUNT OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL LEAKED FROM THE RUPTURED FUEL TANK AND LINES. EXAM OF THE ENG AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THE SPARK PLUGS, PISTONS, AND CYLINDERS HAD EXCESSIVE BLACK SOOT DEPOSITS. THE CARB IDLE ADJUSTING SCREW WAS STRIPPED AND THE MIXTURE CONTROL SCREW HAD RECENT TOOLING MARKS ON IT. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BEEN OPERATING WITH A RICH FUEL MIXTURE AND THAT THE PILOT HAD BEEN ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST IT TO THE PROPER SETTING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE CARBURETOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/27/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1242
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City JACKSONVILLE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32225
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CRAIG MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CRG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 230
Airport Elevation 41
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1246 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 50
Weather Observation Facility ID CRG
Elevation of weather observation facility 41
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2700
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) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 1600
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1085
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44006
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:45AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4FD
NTSB Number MIA91LA128
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 DONALD L. HEDEMAN
Aircraft Model SONERAI-II
Aircraft Series Identifier SONERAI-II
Aircraft Serial Number 00267
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
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 Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MILLHOF, GERALD N.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 10575 JORICK ROAD
Aircraft Owner City JACKSONVILLE
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32225
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MILLHOF, GERALD N.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 10575 JORICK ROAD
Operator City JACKSONVILLE
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32225
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1240
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 23
Runway Length 4001
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --