Hummel Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Saluda, Virginia 23149
Saturday, July 18, 1987 18:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE CLIMBING THRU APRX 400 TO 500 FT AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT MADE A SLIGHT RGT TURN WHICH WAS FLWD BY A LEFT BANK. AFTER MOVING THE CONTROL STICK FOR A LEFT BANK, IT JAMMED TO THE LEFT & WAS RESTRICTED IN FORE & AFT MOVEMENT. THE PLT APPLIED FULL RGT RUDDER & ALTERNATED BTN FULL & PARTIAL PWR. THIS PLACED THE ACFT IN A SKID. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT DSCNDD & STRUCK A 60 TO 70 FT PWR LINE, THEN CAME TO REST IN A FIELD. AN EXAM REVEALED THERE WAS A PLASTIC FUEL SAMPLER & A CLOTH PITOT COVER WITH A METAL CLIP IN THE BELLY OF THE FUSELAGE. MARKINGS WERE FND WHICH VERIFIED THE SAMPLER HAD WEDGED BTN THE CONTROL STICK INTERCONNECT TUBE & THE FUSELAGE STRUCTURE. WHEN THE SAMPLER WAS PLACED IN THAT PSN AFTER THE ACDNT, THE CONTOLS WOULD JAM AS DESCRIBED BY THE PLT. AN EXAM FOR PSBL SOURCES OF FOREIGN OBJECTS REVEALED THERE WERE OPENINGS AT BOTH BOOT COVERS FOR THE CONTROL STICKS. BOTH BOOT COVERS WERE DETERIORATED. ALSO, THERE WAS A 2' CUT-OUT WHERE THE UPPER ELEV CONTROL CABLE EXTENDED UPWARD FM THE FLOORBOARD AT THE REAR BULKHEAD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/18/1987
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SALUDA
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 23149
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HUMMEL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID W75
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 30
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1145
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 18 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2140
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 34508
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:35PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1810E
NTSB Number BFO87FA048
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 AERONCA
Aircraft Model 7AC
Aircraft Series Identifier 7AC
Aircraft Serial Number 7AC5377
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Oct 9 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2297
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CARL J. PRATER
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT. 1 BOX 280A
Aircraft Owner City GLOUCESTER
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 23061
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CARL J. PRATER
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RT. 1 BOX 280A
Operator City GLOUCESTER
Operator State VA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 23061
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 VA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1827
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 Maneuvering
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 18
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 45
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --