Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Elkhart, Indiana 46514
Saturday, August 14, 2004 16:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The experimental amateur-built tailwheel airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain when it exited the runway and nosed over in the grass adjacent to the runway. The pilot's accident report stated, "I was able to maintain the center line until the tailwheel touched down. I had trouble keeping the plane under control. The plane veered toward the right of runway, went into the grass, hit a soft spot and went onto its nose." The pilot listed no mechanical malfunctions in reference to the airplane on that flight. The pilot's safety recommendation stated, "More training in type of plane. I have had several hours training in tailwheel but in slower planes."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot not maintaining directional control during landing roll. A factor was the soft terrain, and the inadequate training in type aircraft.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/14/2004
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Elkhart
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46514
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 414310N
Event Location Longitude 0860006W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1555 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID EKM
Elevation of weather observation facility 778
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 11000
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) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
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) 30.2
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report Elkhart Municipal Airport Elkhart, Indiana, USA
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16482
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Aug 14 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1228
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 28 2004 10:11AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office South Bend, IN, FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N44DX
NTSB Number CHI04CA226
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 Devereux
Aircraft Model Mustang II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 431
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Roderick D. Hill
Aircraft Owner Street Address 51189 Shady Lane
Aircraft Owner City Elkhart
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46514
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 EKM
Departure City Elkhart
Departure State IN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1315
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code EKM
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Sep 9 2004 4:22PM
User who most recently changed record DINC
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --