Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Appomattox, Virginia 24522
Monday, January 30, 2006 13:45 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot attempted a landing to an approximately 1,200-foot long field. The field was located on a level plateau-like area, surrounded by downward sloping terrain. The airplane touched down, "yawed" to the left, and then bounced in the direction of the downward sloping terrain. The pilot believed that the airplane had "remained in ground effect" longer than he thought it should, so he decided to abort the landing. During the aborted landing, the airplane contacted trees and was substantially damaged. The pilot stated that he should have "used right rudder more aggressively" to counteract the left yaw and that he should have retracted the wing flaps, which were still in the 30-degree position during the aborted landing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. A factor in the accident was the pilot's improper use of flaps.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/30/2006
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1345
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Appomattox
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 24522
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 371821N
Event Location Longitude 0785244W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1342 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 100
Weather Observation Facility ID FVX
Elevation of weather observation facility 417
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 27
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.75
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19918
NTSB Notification Source RIC FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Feb 2 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 28 2006 1:30PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Richmond, VA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8146P
NTSB Number NYC06CA067
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 Pergerson
Aircraft Model Highlander
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number JAE00071
Certified Max Gross Weight 1320
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 78
Airframe Hours 78
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name William C. Pergerson
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Richmond
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 23235
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name William C. Pergerson
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Richmond
Operator State VA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 23235
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 FVX
Departure City Farmville
Departure State VA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City Appomattox
Destination State VA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - aborted
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 19 2006 2:37PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --