Venango Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Franklin, Pennsylvania 16323
Saturday, July 24, 2010 11:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Witnesses observed the accident airplane in a left-hand traffic pattern over the airport performing takeoffs and landings. As the pilot was performing the third landing and takeoff, witnesses heard the engine surge before hearing the sound of an impact. The airplane collided with trees before impacting the ground about ¾ mile from the departure end of the runway. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of preimpact malfunction with the airframe or engine controls. The engine examination revealed a blocked carburetor jet and excessive contamination of foreign material in both carburetor float bowls, indicating poor carburetor and fuel system maintenance. Once the blockage was removed from the idle jet the engine started and ran normally. The owner recently purchased the experimental, amateur-built, airplane which had an engine that used automobile fuel.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A partial loss of engine power due to the owner’s inadequate fuel system maintenance, which resulted in a collision with trees and subsequent impact with the ground.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/24/2010
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1120
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Franklin
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 16323
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 412240N
Event Location Longitude 0795137W
Event Location Airport Venango Regional
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FKL
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 1540
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1115 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID FKL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1540
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.04
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28260
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 Apr 19 2011 2:37PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N579PN
NTSB Number ERA10LA373
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name NADIG PAUL K
Aircraft Model NADIG
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 579
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 188
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name David A. Wagner
Aircraft Owner Street Address 22266 Route 66
Aircraft Owner City Shippenville
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 16254-5028
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name David A. Wagner
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 22266 Route 66
Operator City Shippenville
Operator State PA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 16254-5028
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code FKL
Departure City Franklin
Departure State PA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code FKL
Destination City Franklin
Destination State PA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 19 2011 2:37PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
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 --