Cross Keys Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cross Keys, New Jersey 08080
Saturday, June 1, 2002 7:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During a landing rollout, the homebuilt airplane's tailwheel spring fractured, and the assembly jammed the rudder. The airplane veered off the runway and came to rest in a drainage ditch. The main landing gear collapsed, and the fuselage and wings were damaged. Previous damage, including beach marks and rust, were found on the spring's fracture surfaces.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Fatigue fracture of the tail wheel spring, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with a ditch.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/1/2002
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 700
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Cross Keys
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08080
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 394220N
Event Location Longitude 0750159W
Event Location Airport Cross Keys Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 17N
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 162
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 654 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 150
Weather Observation Facility ID PHL
Elevation of weather observation facility 121
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
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) 29.75
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 12864
NTSB Notification Source EROC
NTSB Notification Date Jun 1 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 15 2003 4:03PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Philadelphia

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N753KD
NTSB Number NYC02LA107
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 Karl & Dot, Inc.
Aircraft Model Comp Air 7SL
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 017257SL
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Aug 17 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 115
Airframe Hours 115
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Karl and Dot, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Deptford
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 08096
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Karl O. Baker
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 No
Departure Airport Code 7N7
Departure City PEDRICKTOWN
Departure State NJ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 615
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 17N
Destination City Cross Keys
Destination State NJ
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Dec 30 2002 12:34PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 3500
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --