Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Saginaw, Michigan 48601
Friday, April 20, 2007 9:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The experimental amateur-built airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with a fence and terrain. The pilot suspected engine problems on takeoff and elected to return to the departure airport. The pilot's accident report stated, "Pilot has flown over the old 4' fence many times over in the last 20 years, but did not realize the new 6' fence was out of sight and at this distance the pilot needs to lower the tail for a 3 point landing." An examination of the wreckage revealed no pre-impact anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain the proper glidepath and clearance from a fence while on final approach.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/20/2007
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 945
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Saginaw
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48601
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 432600N
Event Location Longitude 0835142W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID HYX
Elevation of weather observation facility 601
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
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) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
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) 30.3
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KHYX 201355Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 13/04 A3030
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) 21578
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Apr 23 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 27 2007 1:15PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Grand Rapids, MI, FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1041Z
NTSB Number CHI07CA119
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 Johnson-Whittman Tailwind
Aircraft Model JW9L
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Richard M. Von Berg
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Saginaw
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48603
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Richard Von Berg
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Saginaw
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 48603
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 HYX
Departure City Saginaw
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 742
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 3BS
Destination City MIDLAND
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 10 2007 11:41AM
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 --