Penn Yan Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Penn Yan, New York 14527
Wednesday, January 3, 1990 13:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT DRIFTED CLOSE TO THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN, SO HE CORRECTED WITH LEFT RUDDER. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, THE LANDING GEAR STRUCK A SNOWBANK, AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT, AND HE 'PAID TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO (THE) INSTRUMENTS WITH HEAD IN COCKPIT.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN. HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE & THE SNOWBANK WERE RELATED FACTORS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/3/1990
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1315
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City PENN YAN
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14527
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PENN YAN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 903
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1542
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42953
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:44PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N896JC
NTSB Number NYC90DFJ01
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 STEELE
Aircraft Model ACROSPORT II
Aircraft Series Identifier ACROSPORT
Aircraft Serial Number 689
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 6 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 118
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVID N. PHELPS
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT. 364
Aircraft Owner City MIDDLESEX
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 14507
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JAMES FINK
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RD. 1, BOX 12
Operator City TROUT RUN
Operator State PA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 17771
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 N-22
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1315
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 Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 10
Runway Length 3206
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --