Houghton Point Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Edenton, North Carolina 27932
Wednesday, July 3, 2002 16:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A witness stated that he observed the airplane as it was getting ready to takeoff at the pilot/owner's private airstrip, and the engine sounded as if it was "missing or sputtering", and not as it had sounded on previous occasions. He said that as the airplane departed it sounded as if it was loosing power. As it proceeded down the runway, the witness said it started moving to the left and it impacted trees at the end of the runway. The airplane descended and impacting the ground in a thicket of trees, about 200 feet off the departure end of the runway, and a fire ensued. The fire engulfed the airplane and consumed the all except for its frame and engine. The FAA inspector who responded to the scene of the accident stated that the pilot/owner and the airplane mechanic were both in the accident airplane, and had removed the previous propeller and installed another, and were embarking on a flight after maintenance had been performed. On August 5, 2002, under the supervision of an FAA inspector, an FAA licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic with an inspection authorization rating, conducted an examination of the engine. The examination revealed no evidence of preaccident mechanical failure or malfunction. Damage consistent with exposure to heat from the postcrash fire. On August 14, 2002, the propeller was examined at the propeller manufacturer's facility under the supervision of FAA inspectors, and the examination revealed that the propeller had been set to the low pitch limit. According to the manufacturer of the kit, the "Outback", and it had a maximum takeoff gross weight of 1,550 pounds, an empty weight was about 950 pounds, and when loaded with fuel, carried twenty seven and a half gallons. As configured the Outback would have had a ground roll of about 750 feet. The runway at the owner's private strip was about 2400 feet long, and about 56 feet wide.N74PT was taking off to the southeast at the time of the accident.The density altitude was about 2,100 feet at the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot/owner's failure to establish an adequate climb rate and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/3/2002
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1610
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Edenton
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 27932
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 360436N
Event Location Longitude 0762754W
Event Location Airport Houghton Point
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NC56
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 200
Degrees magnetic from airport 225
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1603 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 225
Weather Observation Facility ID EDE
Elevation of weather observation facility 20
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.92
Density Altitude (feet) 2100
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15218
NTSB Notification Source FAA ATL Comm. Center
NTSB Notification Date Jul 3 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1714
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2004 8:14AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Greensboro, North Carolina

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N74PT
NTSB Number MIA02LA127
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Thomas
Aircraft Model Outback
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number S96060181
Certified Max Gross Weight 1550
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Not Registered
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Perley A. Thomas
Aircraft Owner Street Address 263 Moore Road
Aircraft Owner City Guilford
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27265
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code NC56
Departure City Edenton
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Feb 5 2004 12:51PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 2400
Runway Width 56
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --