Virginia Highlands Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Abingdon, Virginia 24210
Saturday, August 13, 2011 17:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that he positioned the airplane on runway 24 and increased engine power to begin the takeoff roll but subsequently aborted the takeoff when he noted that the wind was becoming stronger. He stated that the wind lifted the airplane sideways and off the left side of the runway, where the airplane impacted a ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the empennage and wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. About the time of the accident, the recorded wind at the airport was from 350 degrees at 18 knots gusting to 30 knots with thunderstorms in the vicinity.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the aborted takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/13/2011
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Abingdon
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 24210
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 364114N
Event Location Longitude 0820159W
Event Location Airport Virginia Highlands Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID VJI
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2087
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1655 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID VJI
Elevation of weather observation facility 2087
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 7000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3600
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 18
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 30
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.04
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) 29458
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 31 2011 6:56PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N376CG
NTSB Number ERA11CA455
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 G-DAWG LLC
Aircraft Model JUST ACFT HIGHLANDER
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number JAESC0141
Certified Max Gross Weight 1320
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 Jun 15 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1115
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name G-DAWG LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City HIGHLANDS
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28741-7083
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name G-DAWG LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City HIGHLANDS
Operator State NC
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 28741-7083
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 VJI
Departure City Abingdon
Departure State VA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code VJI
Destination City Abingdon
Destination State VA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 20 2012 8:52AM
User who most recently changed record grol
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 24
Runway Length 4471
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --