Wilder's Strip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Arlington, Tennessee 38002
Saturday, July 31, 1982 18:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING DURING A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT DUE TO LOW FUEL. AFTER DECIDING HE HAD ENOUGH FUEL TO CONTINUE, THE PILOT ELECTED TO TAKEOFF. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB THE ENGINE QUIT. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE IN A COTTON FIELD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/31/1982
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City ARLINGTON
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38002
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport WILDER'S STRIP
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 89
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1041
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5600M
NTSB Number ATL82FLT05
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name VARGA
Aircraft Model 2180
Aircraft Series Identifier 2180
Aircraft Serial Number VAC 183-82
Certified Max Gross Weight 1817
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 69
Airframe Hours 69
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CURTIS R. MERKEL
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 1218 RT #1
Aircraft Owner City TAMAQUA
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 18252
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CURTIS R. MERKEL
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address BOX 1218 RT #1
Operator City TAMAQUA
Operator State PA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 18252
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
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
Departure City ONEIDA
Departure State TN
Departure Country
Departure Time 1540
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code FLV
Destination City FT. LEAVENWORTH
Destination State KS
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --