Manassas Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Manassas, Virginia 20108
Tuesady, September 2, 2003 10:40 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Prior to the flight, the pilot received an IFR clearance with changes to the route on his flight plan. Subsequently, the pilot felt rushed and distracted during the pre-takeoff checklist, and forgot to extend the flaps to the takeoff position. During the takeoff roll, the airplane initially became airborne, but settled back on the runway. It then traveled off the right side of the runway, struck a runway sign, and came to rest in a grass area.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to follow the published takeoff procedures for the make and model airplane and his failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/2/2003
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1040
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Manassas
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 20108
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 384317N
Event Location Longitude 0773056W
Event Location Airport Manassas Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HEF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID HEF
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17199
NTSB Notification Source Washington DC, FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
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 --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N789HS
NTSB Number NYC03CA188
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Lancair
Aircraft Model IVP
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number LIV294
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
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 Hugh H. Smith
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Destin
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32541
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 HEF
Departure City Manassas
Departure State VA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1040
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DTS
Destination City Destin
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 6 2003 10:38AM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16R
Runway Length 3702
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --