Alexander Salamon Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

West Union, Ohio 45693
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 20:41 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The accident occurred during an initial flight test of the experimental amateur-built airplane. On the day of the accident, the pilot was observed working on the airplane engine and completing several taxi tests before departing on the accident flight. Several witnesses reported seeing the airplane on initial climb from the runway when the engine began running rough. One witness reported seeing smoke trail from the airplane. The airplane was observed turning back toward the airport before entering a nose-down, spiraling descent until impact with the ground. A postimpact fire destroyed the fuselage cabin and cockpit. No anomalies were noted during the postaccident examination that would have resulted in the loss of engine power or the subsequent loss of airplane control. The drug Butalbital was detected in the pilot's blood and liver samples; however, the toxicological levels were significantly less than a typical therapeutic dose and would likely not have resulted in any impairment. The witness’s description of the event was consistent with the airplane entering an aerodynamic stall/spin while attempting to return to the airport after encountering a loss of engine power during initial climb.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed after a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin at a low altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/24/2009
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2041
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City West Union
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 45693
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 385105N
Event Location Longitude 0833359W
Event Location Airport Alexander Salamon Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KAMT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.75
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 896
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2054 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID KILN
Elevation of weather observation facility 1077
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 37
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.9
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) 29067
NTSB Notification Source Federal Aviation Administratio
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 18 2011 12:42PM
User who most recently changed record foxt
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N152AS
NTSB Number CEN09LA385
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Schendl
Aircraft Model Mustang II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number M-II-1688
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Apr 5 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Anthony L. Schendl
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Seaman
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45679-9558
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Anthony L. Schendl
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Seaman
Operator State OH
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 45679-9558
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) Flight Test
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code KAMT
Departure City West Union
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2041
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code KAMT
Destination City West Union
Destination State OH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 13 2011 1:22PM
User who most recently changed record foxt
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 05
Runway Length 3762
Runway Width 65
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --