Block Island State Apt Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Block Island, Rhode Island 02807
Wednesday, August 25, 1999 17:49 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that, during takeoff, he was unable to clear trees at the end of the runway. He added that the normal takeoff distance for the powered glider was 800 feet. He did not know why the 2,501 foot long runway was not sufficient, but added that the engine was producing full power. He further stated that he should have aborted the takeoff. The pilot and passenger could not remember the position of the spoilers prior to takeoff. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not reveal the pre-impact position of the spoilers. The Inspector added that a large portion of the wreckage was consumed by fire.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/25/1999
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1749
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BLOCK ISLAND
Event State RHODE ISLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02807
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport BLOCK ISLAND STATE APT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport 280
Airport Elevation 109
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1755 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID BID
Elevation of weather observation facility 109
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 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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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 Serious
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 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 655
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 25 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2024
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 10:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N111TE
NTSB Number NYC99LA211
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Aeromot
Aircraft Model AMT-300
Aircraft Series Identifier AMT-300
Aircraft Serial Number 300.107
Certified Max Gross Weight 1875
Aircraft Category Glider
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 20 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 57
Airframe Hours 81
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TROPICANA CHARTERS INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 229 SOUTH STATE STREET
Aircraft Owner City DOVER
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19901
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name EDWARD K. DARCY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 620 SOUTHWEST SALERNO ROAD
Operator City STUART
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 34997
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 BID
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1749
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HFD
Destination City HARTFORD
Destination State CT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 2501
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --