De Funiak Springs Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Defuniak Sprngs, Florida 32433
Friday, April 15, 1988 13:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALT OF APRX 100 FT WHILE ON A PERSONAL FLT, THE ENG QUIT. THE PLT BANKED THE ACFT TO THE LEFT TO LAND ON A RD BUT LOST CONTROL DURING THE MANEUVER. THE ACFT DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED AND COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE MAGNETO SWITCH REVEALED THAT A STEEL SPRING ON THE INSIDE SHORTED THE BOTH POSITION. THE LT OR RT POSITIONS WERE OPERABLE. THE PLT STATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/15/1988
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City DEFUNIAK SPRNGS
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32433
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DE FUNIAK SPRINGS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 54J
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 289
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 306
Weather Observation Facility ID CEW
Elevation of weather observation facility 215
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1595
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 --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 478
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 15 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1544
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36184
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:41AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N51HH
NTSB Number MIA88LA148
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 HENDERSON
Aircraft Model RV-4
Aircraft Series Identifier RV-4
Aircraft Serial Number H 001 86
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 Feb 17 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18
Airframe Hours 141
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HARLEY L HENDERSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 686
Aircraft Owner City DEFUNIAK SPRING
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32433
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name HENDERSON, HARLEY L
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 686
Operator City DEFUNIAK SPRNGS
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32433
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 1330
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 Descent - uncontrolled
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 27
Runway Length 3200
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --