Pottstown-Limerick Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pottstown, Pennsylvania 19464
Tuesady, May 17, 1983 18:35 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT SAID HE HAD JUST PURCHASED THE ACFT AND THIS WAS HIS FIRST FLIGHT. SINCE THIS WAS A SINGLE SEAT HOME BUILT ACFT THE STUDENT PILOT BELIEVED HE COULD NOT GET AN INSTRUCTOR TO CHECK HIM OUT OR SIGN HIM OUT FOR SOLO. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT SEVERAL WITNESSES SAW THIS ACFT FLYING AT EXTREMELY LOW ALTITUDE AROUND THE AIRPORT. AN INSPECTION OF THE ACFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED TREE BRANCHES AND TREE LEAVES ON THE WINGS AND STRUTS. THE PILOT DID NOT SUBMIT A REPORT SO HIS PILOT EXPERIENCE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. HE DID STATE TO AN INVESTIGATING TROOPER THAT HE 'BALLOONED BADLY' DURING THE LANDING AND BOUNCED OFF THE RUNWAY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/17/1983
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1835
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City POTTSTOWN
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 19464
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport POTTSTOWN-LIMERICK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 46
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 311
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
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 Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 368
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 20443
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N40JM
NTSB Number NYC83FHA04
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 HOMEBUILT
Aircraft Model E.A.A. P-2
Aircraft Series Identifier E.A.A. P-2
Aircraft Serial Number 002JN-868
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 135
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FRANCIS DIAMENT
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 144
Aircraft Owner City ST. PETERS
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19470
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 Yes - certificate holder
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 1830
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 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 3500
Runway Width 58
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --