Warrenton-Fauquier Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Midland, Virginia 22728
Saturday, August 4, 2001 8:50 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was flying the unregistered homebuilt airplane at an air show in a spot-landing contest. The pilot said he had a hard landing, and broke the landing gear off of the airplane. The airplane was operated as an ultra light vehicle under an exemption from 14 CFR Part 103 on behalf of the United States Ultra light Association (USUA), and was placarded with a USUA registration number. The exemption provided for two-place airplanes that weigh more than the ultra light limit of 254 pounds, but less than 496 pounds, to be operated as ultra light vehicles solely for the purpose of ultra light flight instruction. The passenger in the airplane was not receiving flight instruction, and said he was just along for the ride. The pilot did not provide a report of the incident as required by NTSB regulation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to obtain/maintain the proper descent rate which resulted in a hard landing and separation of the landing gear. A factor in the incident was the pilot's improper decision to participate in an unauthorized activity with his airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 8/4/2001
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 850
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Midland
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 22728
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 383513N
Event Location Longitude 0774240W
Event Location Airport WARRENTON-FAUQUIER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID W66
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 325
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 855 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID HEF
Elevation of weather observation facility 192
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.96
Density Altitude (feet) 1112
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13354
NTSB Notification Source
NTSB Notification Date Aug 6 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 6 2004 3:24PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Washington, DC

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number 12NVU
NTSB Number IAD01IA093
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Morrison
Aircraft Model Rans S-12
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight 920
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name James A. Willess
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Catlett
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 20119
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 W66
Departure City Midland
Departure State VA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code W66
Destination City Midland
Destination State VA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 18 2002 4:29PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 4103
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --