Flyers Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Linden, North Carolina 28356
Saturday, December 1, 2001 17:05 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, upon his return to his home field, the wind favored using runway 22, but the sun was located in just the right spot to blind anyone flying in that direction. The pilot continued the approach although his visibility was severely restricted, and at about 100 feet from the runway, the left wing collided with a tree top and spun the aircraft to the ground. The pilot was not injured, but the aircraft was destroyed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to correct a condition where visual contact with the terrain was lost due to sunshine glare, resulting in collision with a tree during final approach for landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/1/2001
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1705
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Linden
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28356
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Flyers Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 9NC2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 40
Airport Elevation 115
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID FAY
Elevation of weather observation facility 310
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.1
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11830
NTSB Notification Source FAA Comm Ctr-SE
NTSB Notification Date Dec 1 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2150
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 4 2002 9:52AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Greensboro

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N366KR
NTSB Number MIA02LA038
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Byrd
Aircraft Model KR-2S
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 366
Certified Max Gross Weight 1250
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 24 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 11
Airframe Hours 49
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Melvin G.Byrd
Aircraft Owner Street Address 643 Flyers Dr.
Aircraft Owner City Linden
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28356
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 5W5
Departure City Raleigh-Durham
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1645
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 9NC2
Destination City Linden
Destination State NC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - VFR pattern - final approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 20 2002 1:54PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 2800
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --