Front Roayl Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Front Royal, Virginia 22630
Sunday, September 29, 2002 16:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot made a left downwind entry into the traffic pattern. When the airplane was abeam the runway numbers, he retarded the throttle to idle, and maintained an approach airspeed of 60 knots. Everything was "normal" as the pilot turned the airplane onto the base leg; however, on final approach, the airplane entered a left spin, and spun to the ground. According to the pilot, there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane or engine.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin. A factor was the airplane's proximity to the ground when the spin commenced.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/29/2002
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1615
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City FRONT ROYAL
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 22630
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 385503N
Event Location Longitude 0781521W
Event Location Airport FRONT ROAYL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FRR
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.25
Degrees magnetic from airport 270
Airport Elevation 700
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1559 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID OKV
Elevation of weather observation facility 727
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.22
Density Altitude (feet) 1373
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13401
NTSB Notification Source EROC
NTSB Notification Date Sep 29 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 13 2003 12:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office DULLES FAA/FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N24277
NTSB Number IAD02LA097
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 Aeronca
Aircraft Model 65-C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 7409
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 12 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours 4389
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CURTIS J. CARLSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City PHENIX
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 23959
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 9D4
Departure City DECK
Departure State PA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FRR
Destination City FRONT ROYAL
Destination State VA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - VFR pattern - final approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Dec 19 2002 7:48PM
User who most recently changed record COXP
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 090
Runway Length 2933
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --