Hilltop Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Spencerville, Indiana 46788
Wednesday, June 7, 1989 18:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT WAS MAKING A SOFT FIELD TOUCH AND GO LANDING WHEN, DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE RIGHT WINGTIP CONTACTED 12 INCH HIGH GRASS ALONG THE SIDE OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE LEFT GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN THE PILOT APPLIED THE LEFT BRAKE IN AN ATTEMPT TO REALIGN THE AIRPLANE. THE LEFT WING AND CANARD BROKE OFF UPON CONTACTING THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED. A 30 FOOT WIDE SECTION OF THE RUNWAY HAD BEEN MOWED JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE SOFT FIELD LANDING.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/7/1989
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1845
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City SPENCERVILLE
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46788
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HILLTOP
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 58IN
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 820
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1850 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 219
Weather Observation Facility ID FWA
Elevation of weather observation facility 815
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2458
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 FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2156
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 8 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41834
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N79SG
NTSB Number CHI89DET07
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 GOOD
Aircraft Model VARIEZE
Aircraft Series Identifier VARIEZE
Aircraft Serial Number 074
Certified Max Gross Weight 1050
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 Apr 16 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 475
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STEPHEN L. GOOD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2426 ARDMORE AVE.
Aircraft Owner City FT. WAYNE
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46802
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 SMD
Departure City FORT WAYNE
Departure State IN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1815
Departure Time Zone EST
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 Landing
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 3300
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --