Flying Circus Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Warrenton, Virginia 22712
Sunday, July 23, 2000 13:25 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The open-cockpit biplane departed on its seventh takeoff of the day from the turf runway at close to its maximum allowable gross weight. The pilot reported that the takeoff roll was sluggish, and that the airplane would not climb after liftoff. The pilot aborted the takeoff; the airplane touched down, overran the airport boundary into a soybean field and trees. A witness stated that during the takeoff, 'It sounded like it was missing and carrying on.' After the accident, a loaner propeller was installed; the engine started immediately, and ran smoothly without interruption. However, the engine would not accelerate to full operating RPM, and magneto checks produced intermittent results. The engine was stopped and the engine controls and fuel and air filters were inspected. The engine was restarted and accelerated to 1,000 rpm. The magneto switch was placed on the left only, and the engine was accelerated to 1,600 rpm smoothly and without interruption. Engine power was reduced to 1,000 rpm and the magneto switch was selected to the right magneto. The engine would not accelerate with the application of throttle and engine power would randomly start and stop.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the loss of engine power over unsuitable terrain due to an inoperative magneto.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/23/2000
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1325
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City WARRENTON
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 22712
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport FLYING CIRCUS AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3VA3
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 315
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1355 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 50
Weather Observation Facility ID HEF
Elevation of weather observation facility 192
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
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) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1055
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11148
NTSB Notification Source Eastern Region Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Jul 23 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1443
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 4 2001 12:55PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N32162
NTSB Number IAD00LA066
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 Waco
Aircraft Model UPF7
Aircraft Series Identifier UPF7
Aircraft Serial Number 5794
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 12 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 820
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN M. CORRADI
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City RIXEYVILLE
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 22737
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code 3VA3
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1325
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 Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 8 2001 4:02AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 2
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --