Peter Prince Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Milton, Florida 32583
Saturday, August 6, 2005 14:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The solo commercial pilot was departing in a recently built experimental/homebuilt airplane on a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight. A witness, who was also a personal friend of the pilot, reported that the accident flight was the first flight since the accident pilot had built and certified the airplane. As he watched the airplane depart, it began a very shallow, gradual climb. He said that the airplane's takeoff run appeared to be longer than he would have anticipated, and noted that once the airplane became airborne, the airplane began a shallow flat left turn, with a nose high attitude. The witness said, in part: "It appeared the plane was not at full power." The witness reported that it appeared that the accident pilot was attempting to land at the airport, but as the airplane continued a left turn, it descended into the trees and disappeared from sight, followed by a large plume of black smoke. The steel tubing, wood, and fabric-covered airplane was destroyed by a combination of impact forces and a postimpact fire. An FAA airworthiness aviation safety inspector examined the aircraft wreckage at the accident site, and reported finding no preaccident mechanical anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power during initial climb after takeoff for an undetermined reason, which resulted in a forced landing and subsequent in-flight collision with tree-covered terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/6/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1410
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Milton
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32583
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 303815N
Event Location Longitude 0865937W
Event Location Airport Peter Prince Field Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 2R4
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 --
Airport Elevation 82
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 220
Weather Observation Facility ID PNS
Elevation of weather observation facility 86
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3200
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22918
NTSB Notification Source Atlanta FAA Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Aug 6 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 30 2008 4:08PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Birmingham, Alabama FSDO-09

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N707DG
NTSB Number MIA05LA146
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Gustafson
Aircraft Model Easy Eagle
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1001
Certified Max Gross Weight 737
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 0
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name David E. Gustafson
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Pensacola
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32506
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 2R4
Departure City Milton
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1408
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 2R4
Destination City Milton
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 26 2007 2:07PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 3700
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --