Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ashboro, North Carolina 27298
Saturday, May 22, 1999 14:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that approximately 24 miles from his destination, he noticed an area of thunderstorm activity between his position and his destination. The pilot reversed course and elected to land at an airport that he had overflown. During the course reversal the engine lost power. He decided to attempt a forced landing on a nearby paved road. During the forced landing, he applied full brakes and tried to stop the airplane before coming to a sharp curve in the road. He stated that he 'dropped a wheel off to the right of the road, hoping to slow down in the grass.' The airplane subsequently departed the road, colliding with a telephone pole and a mailbox, and rolled over on its left side. The post-accident examination of the airplane and the engine assembly failed to disclose a mechanical problem. During the engine examination, fuel was traced from the fuel tank to the carburetor. Several gallons of aviation fuel were recovered from the fuel system. The internal examination of the engine disclosed that the piston tops were clean, and a film of engine oil was on the cylinder walls. Engine drive train rotation was also established. A review of weather data disclosed that weather conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Factors were weather conditions favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/22/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1450
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City ASHBORO
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 27298
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1455 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID W44
Elevation of weather observation facility 673
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 4
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 5500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 17
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2300
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) 231
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 22 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:33AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N624RF
NTSB Number ATL99LA093
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 Robert W. Ferrell
Aircraft Model TITAN TORNADO II
Aircraft Series Identifier TITAN TORN
Aircraft Serial Number D94582COHK00
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 11
Airframe Hours 112
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT W. FARRELL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1219 FLETCHER DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City PHENIXCITY
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36867
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 No
Departure Airport Code GRD
Departure City GREENVILLE
Departure State SC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 2A5
Destination City LIBERTY
Destination State NC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --