New Castle County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Delaware City, Delaware 19720
Tuesady, April 8, 2003 9:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane completed two circuits in holding before being vectored onto the ILS Runway 1 approach in instrument meteorological conditions. The airplane intercepted the final approach course about 4.0 miles outside the LOM, and tracked the localizer inbound, while maintaining a constant altitude of 2,000 feet msl. About 2.0 miles from the LOM, approach control issued an approach clearance, and instructed the pilot to contact the tower. The pilot acknowledged both transmissions, adding "appreciate all your help," which was the last transmission received from the accident airplane. As the airplane neared the LOM, it started a gradual descent to 1,500 feet msl, and slowed to a ground speed of approximately 70 knots. This condition lasted for approximately 20 seconds before the airplane entered a rapid descent, and radar contact was lost. The airplane impacted the ground approximately 475 feet left of the final approach course and abeam the LOM. Damage to the airplane was consistent with a spin to the right. Examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact failures or malfunctions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. A factor in the accident was instrument meteorological conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/8/2003
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 955
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Delaware City
Event State DELAWARE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 19720
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 393450N
Event Location Longitude 0753656W
Event Location Airport NEW CASTLE COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ILG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 5.9
Degrees magnetic from airport 196
Airport Elevation 79
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 951 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 16
Weather Observation Facility ID ILG
Elevation of weather observation facility 79
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.36
Density Altitude (feet) --
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) 17201
NTSB Notification Source EROC
NTSB Notification Date Apr 8 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 27 2005 3:52PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Philadelphia

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7144N
NTSB Number NYC03FA079
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Raytheon
Aircraft Model V35A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number D-8684
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 24 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 6340
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Peter R. Kuehne
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City 7800 East Fork Road
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28712
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code AVL
Departure City Asheville
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 703
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ILG
Destination City Wilmington
Destination State DE
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - Initial approach fix (IAF) to final approach fix (FAF)/outer marker (IFR)
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record --
User who most recently changed record --
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 1
Runway Length 7181
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --