Private Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Parksley, Virginia 23421
Saturday, March 16, 2002 16:40 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot completed the engine run up checks, and then taxied the homebuilt airplane onto the 1,100-foot grass runway. He advanced the throttle, and the engine responded normally. The pilot released the brakes, and the airplane started to accelerate. During the ground roll, the pilot noticed no change in engine noise or rpm, but felt the airplane was accelerating slower than normal, which he contributed to the fact it had rained the day before, making the ground soft and the grass wet. Even with the reduced acceleration, he felt he could safely continue the takeoff. The airplane lifted off about 2/3 down the runway, striking some power lines during the initial climb, and then impacted the ground. The pilot reported he experienced no preimpact failures or malfunctions with the airplane, and that the airplane normally utilizes 300 to 500 feet of runway before lifting off.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's decision to continue the takeoff. A factor in the accident was the soft wet runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/16/2002
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1640
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Parksley
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 23421
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Private Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.02
Degrees magnetic from airport 110
Airport Elevation 10
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1651 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 206
Weather Observation Facility ID ORF
Elevation of weather observation facility 26
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 68
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
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) 29.96
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12120
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Mar 21 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 945
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 26 2002 11:02AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Richmond

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4348V
NTSB Number NYC02LA073
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Annis
Aircraft Model Fisher FP-202
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2337
Certified Max Gross Weight 440
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 30 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 130
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Vincent Jordan
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Crisfield
Aircraft Owner State MD
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 21817
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 NONE
Departure City Parksley
Departure State VA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code W41
Destination City Crisfield
Destination State MD
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jul 23 2002 2:35PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 110
Runway Length 1100
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --