Cox-Grantham Airfield Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grantham, North Carolina 27530
Monday, October 17, 2011 18:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he had completed two approaches to the private grass airstrip without incident. During the third approach, the airplane struck unmarked power lines located just prior to the approach end of the runway. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground and sustained substantial damage to the underside of its fuselage, rudder and both wings. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. The runway previously had a marked, 670-foot displaced threshold to compensate for the power lines. The airport manager reported that the displaced threshold markings were made of wood and had deteriorated over a period of years.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate clearance from unmarked power lines while on approach to land at a private airport.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/17/2011
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Grantham
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 27530
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 351720N
Event Location Longitude 0781047W
Event Location Airport Cox-Grantham Airfield
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 6NC0
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 157
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1755 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 75
Weather Observation Facility ID GSB
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
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) 82
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 51
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.82
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29416
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern C-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 1 2012 2:38PM
User who most recently changed record snyg
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N25WS
NTSB Number ERA12CA043
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 FEHLNER-SHELTON
Aircraft Model AEROSPORT SCAMP WTB1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 75-02
Certified Max Gross Weight 850
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Feb 1 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 11
Airframe Hours 95
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Charles J. Ross
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City MOUNT OLIVE
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28365-7335
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Robert L. Ross
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City MOUNT OLIVE
Operator State NC
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 28365-7335
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 6NC0
Departure City Grantham
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 6NC0
Destination City Grantham
Destination State NC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 21 2011 1:16PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 2800
Runway Width 54
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --