Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sims, North Carolina 27880
Thursday, October 8, 2009 18:36 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he was flying above the reservoir at 500 feet approximately thirty minutes before sundown. As he completed a 180-degree turn, the sun was in his eyes. He put on a cap to block the sun from his eyes, and as he was adjusting the cap, the aircraft impacted the water. The pilot stated he “apparently relaxed the back pressure on the stick enough to lose altitude.” During the impact, the right wing incurred substantial damage. No preimpact malfunctions were reported by the pilot.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain altitude, resulting in controlled flight into water.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/8/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1836
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Sims
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 27880
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 354200N
Event Location Longitude 0781000W
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 1839 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 65
Weather Observation Facility ID JNX
Elevation of weather observation facility 164
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
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) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.15
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) 26291
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern Region ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 6 2009 2:52PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N18241
NTSB Number ERA10CA011
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 REMOS AIRCRAFT GMBH
Aircraft Model REMOS G-3/
Aircraft Series Identifier 2006
Aircraft Serial Number 182
Certified Max Gross Weight 1320
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
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 Nov 28 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 65
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name MASSEY JOHN THOMAS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2385 STEEL BRIDGE RD
Aircraft Owner City CLAYTON
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27520-7836
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name MASSEY JOHN THOMAS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2385 STEEL BRIDGE RD
Operator City CLAYTON
Operator State NC
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 27520-7836
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 No
Departure Airport Code JNX
Departure City Smithfield
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1745
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code JNX
Destination City Smithfield
Destination State NC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 8 2010 2:04PM
User who most recently changed record broda
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --