Fredonia Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fredonia, Kansas
Sunday, May 9, 1982 14:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED AFTER TAKING OFF ON A TEST FLIGHT. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A STEEP ANGLE OF CLIMB, AND THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN AS THE PILOT WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE PILOT HAD BEEN ADJUSTING THE MAGNETOS PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. HOWEVER, NO PREIMPACT FAILURE OF THE ENGINE OR AIRFRAME WAS FOUND. BOTH MAGNETOS WERE DRIVEN CLOCKWISE ON THE ENGINE, AND BOTH PRODUCED A GOOD SPARK WHEN BENCH TESTED. HOWEVER, THE RIGHT MAGNETO DISTRIBUTOR GEAR AND BREAKER WERE SET FOR COUNTERCLOCKWISE ROTATION. THE LEFT MAGNETO DISTRIBUTOR GEAR WAS SET IN A CLOCKWISE POSITION, WHILE THE RESPECTIVE BREAKER CAM WAS SET FOR COUNTERCLOCKWISE ROTATION. DUE TO ENGINE DAMAGE, MAGNETO-TO-ENGINE TIMING COULD NOT BE CHECKED. BOTH MAGNETOS HAD BEEN SET AT THE LIMITS OF THEIR MOUNTING SLOTS ON THE ENGINE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/9/1982
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City FREDONIA
Event State KANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport FREDONIA MUNICIPAL
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 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 78
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 815
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 Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2248K
NTSB Number MKC82FCQ09
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name LUSCOMBE
Aircraft Model 8A
Aircraft Series Identifier 8A
Aircraft Serial Number 4975
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
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 92
Airframe Hours 4455
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name K C RELPH
Aircraft Owner Street Address 632 NORTH 8TH STREET
Aircraft Owner City FREDONIA
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 66736
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name K C RELPH
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 632 NORTH 8TH STREET
Operator City FREDONIA
Operator State KS
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 66736
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City FREDONIA
Departure State KS
Departure Country
Departure Time 1355
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City FREDONIA
Destination State KS
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 17
Runway Length 2430
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --