Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Covington, Louisiana 70433
Friday, July 23, 2004 8:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Prior to departure, the pilot topped off the fuel tanks. The pilot indicated the takeoff roll "used alot of runway." Shortly after takeoff, the airplane impacted trees near the end of the runway, and came to rest south of the airport. The pilot stated the airplane did not climb due to a high density altitude. In addition, the pilot stated there were no anomalies with the engine or airframe. The elevation at the airport was 39 feet msl and the density altitude was calculated to 1,764 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate preflight planning which failed to assure adequate takeoff performance for the airplane to clear obstacles. A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to abort the takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/23/2004
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Covington
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70433
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 302642N
Event Location Longitude 0895919W
Event Location Airport --
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 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 40
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 110
Weather Observation Facility ID ASD
Elevation of weather observation facility 28
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
Density Altitude (feet) 1764
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17165
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Jul 23 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1115
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 Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N89VE
NTSB Number FTW04LA196
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 Everett Vidrine
Aircraft Model Dragonfly
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 906
Certified Max Gross Weight 1100
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 1 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Frank L. Hilliard
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1457 Ridgecrest
Aircraft Owner City Slidell
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 70458
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 L31
Departure City Covington
Departure State LA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Feb 8 2006 2:28PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\HAMG
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 2999
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --