Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Reading, Pennsylvania 19603
Thursday, June 29, 1989 9:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 2,500 FEET MSL, THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A GRADUAL, EVENTUALLY COMPLETE, LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY LOCATED IN ROLLING TERRAIN. AN FAA INSPECTOR DESCRIBED THE HIGHWAY AS CURVING 'GENTLY, BUT SUBSTANTIALLY' TO THE LEFT. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED ITS LANDING ROLL, AND IMPACTED THE GUARDRAIL LOCATED ALONG THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY; IT SKIDDED ALONG THE GUARDRAIL FOR ABOUT 20 FEET BEFORE IT FLIPPED OVER AND CAME TO A STOP. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION/DIFFICULTY. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CONDUCIVE TO THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY USE CARBURETOR HEAT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/29/1989
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City READING
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 19603
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
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 845 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID RDG
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4500
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
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 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) 2213
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 41974
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:46PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N17537
NTSB Number NYC89DHA01
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 VEHAFRIC
Aircraft Model JUNGSTER ONE
Aircraft Series Identifier JUNGSTER O
Aircraft Serial Number 681099
Certified Max Gross Weight 1000
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 26 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 44
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RICHARD MARK/MARTHA A. KAUFMAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2401 STUMPTOWN RD.
Aircraft Owner City BIRD-IN-HAND
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 17505
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name RICHARD M. KAUFMAN
Operator Same as Owner? No
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 PA88
Departure City GERMANSVILLE
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 37PA
Destination City SMOKETOWN
Destination State PA
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --