Mayers Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ashland, Virginia 23005
Monday, September 15, 2003 18:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was departing from a 2,000 feet long, turf runway. He reported that after becoming airborne, the engine or prop sound changed, and then he perceived that the airplane was slowing and settling. He aborted the takeoff, and touched down on the runway. The pilot was unable to stop before the end, and overran the runway. The airplane then crossed a road where the nose wheel separated from the fuselage, and came to rest in a pond. The engine was test run by the FAA at takeoff power for 5 minutes with no variation in rpm noted. When the propeller control was placed in the cruise power range, 2,200 to 2,300, the propeller tended to hunt, plus or minus 50 rpm. The manufacturer of the propeller governor tested the unit and reported that the rpm was set higher than specified. When disassemble, the unit was found worn, with sludge and some small particles trapped inside the gasket screen.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's decision to perform an aborted takeoff after he perceived a power loss. A factor was the unsuitable terrain the airplane encountered after it overran the end of the runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/15/2003
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Ashland
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 23005
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 374638N
Event Location Longitude 0772902W
Event Location Airport Mayers Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID VG24
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 100
Airport Elevation 215
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1854 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 165
Weather Observation Facility ID RIC
Elevation of weather observation facility 168
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
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) 29.98
Density Altitude (feet) 1516
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) 15765
NTSB Notification Source Richmond, VA FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Sep 16 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1145
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 30 2004 12:15PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Richmond, Virginia

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N32DQ
NTSB Number NYC03LA200
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 Lake
Aircraft Model LA-4-200
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 855
Certified Max Gross Weight 2600
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 4 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5.1
Airframe Hours 1356
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Martin G. Hockett
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Nags Head
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 23230
Operator is an individual? Yes
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 VG24
Departure City Ashland
Departure State --
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code VG24
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 12 2004 2:19PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 10
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --