Campbell Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Weirwood, Virginia 23413
Friday, October 31, 2008 14:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot the weather was clear with winds from the southwest at 5 to 10 knots. He stated that after refueling, he departed for a second flight and after 20 minutes, he prepared to land. On an extended downwind leg, at 1,100 feet above ground level (AGL) and about to turn base leg, he encountered some turbulence. He increased power and got out of it, only to enter turbulence again. The airplane went into a dive and went inverted, cutting the fuel flow off to the engine. He was able to regain control and fly the airplane. However, without engine power he was gliding toward the woods. The airplane was too close to the trees, and the pilot's only option was to reduce airspeed to near stalling and mush down on the treetops. The airplane descendedinto the trees with the left wingtip on the ground and the nose 6 feet off the ground. The reported wind, at an airport about 12 miles northwest of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 250 degrees at 9 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane following an in-flight encounter with turbulence during approach, which led to a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, and subsequent forced landing into trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/31/2008
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Weirwood
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 23413
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 372759N
Event Location Longitude 0755125W
Event Location Airport Campbell Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 9VG
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 --
Airport Elevation 40
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1403 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 30
Weather Observation Facility ID MFV
Elevation of weather observation facility 47
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.48
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) 24794
NTSB Notification Source FAA Eastern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 22 2008 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1932H
NTSB Number ERA09CA046
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 Hilderson Oswald
Aircraft Model Aventura HP
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 0018
Certified Max Gross Weight 950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats 1
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 Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Sep 22 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 24.9
Airframe Hours 347.2
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Hilderson Oswald
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Homestead
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33034
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Hilderson Oswald
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Homestead
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 33034
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 9VG
Departure City Weirwood
Departure State VA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1340
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 9VG
Destination City Weirwood
Destination State VA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 15 2008 1:38PM
User who most recently changed record grer
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --