Warrenton-Fauquier Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Midland, Virginia 22728
Monday, October 22, 2001 16:09 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot purchased, and refurbished the homebuilt airplane. On the day of the accident, he departed on his first flight since the purchase. Before that, he only conducted taxi work, along with some short test hops, which had a maximum altitude of approximately 5 feet. After completing at least one traffic pattern, the airplane departed again for close traffic. While on the downwind leg, the engine started to produce an unusual noise, and the airplane crashed in a wooded area, about 1/2 mile from the runway. There was an open area further along the airplane's intended track, but nothing in the immediate vicinity of the accident site. In addition, no preimpact failures or malfunctions with the airplane were identified.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/22/2001
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1609
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 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport WARRENTON-FAUQUIER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID W66
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 329
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1602 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 233
Weather Observation Facility ID CJR
Elevation of weather observation facility 313
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
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 --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13106
NTSB Notification Source Eastern Region Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Oct 22 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1745
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 1 2003 7:34AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Dulles, VA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N843C
NTSB Number NYC02LA014
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed --
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Nicolosi
Aircraft Model Challenger II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 843
Certified Max Gross Weight 820
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Reinald G. Finke
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Woodbridge
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 22192
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
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 No
Departure Airport Code W66
Departure City WARRENTON
Departure State VA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code W66
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Mar 28 2002 11:21AM
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 --