Crooked Creek Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bunn, North Carolina 27508
Sunday, November 20, 2011 11:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the attempted landing, the airplane "floated some" and touched down on the 2,500-foot turf runway near the midpoint with insufficient distance remaining to stop. The pilot then increased engine power and aborted the landing but felt that the engine was not producing full power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane in an attempt to avoid trees beyond the departure end of the runway, but the airplane struck the trees in a level attitude, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings. A witness reported observing the airplane intermittently during the attempted landing and said that, when he first saw the airplane, it had traveled a significant distance down the runway. He then heard the airplane's engine power increase, watched as it climbed in a shallow right turn, and realized that the airplane would not be able to clear the 25-foot tall trees beyond the end of the runway. Both the witness and a weather reporting station 7 nautical miles from the accident site reported that an approximate 6-knot tailwind prevailed about the time of the accident. Examination of the airframe and engine found no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot did not attain a proper touchdown point while attempting to land with a tailwind and delayed his decision to abort the landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/20/2011
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Bunn
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 27508
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 355601N
Event Location Longitude 0781447W
Event Location Airport Crooked Creek Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 7NC5
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 250
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1055 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 300
Weather Observation Facility ID LHZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 368
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
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) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.34
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) 29593
NTSB Notification Source Pilot in Command
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 26 2012 2:15PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6844B
NTSB Number ERA12CA078
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 BRAY VERLE G JR
Aircraft Model KITFOX IV 1200
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1802
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
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 Nov 18 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 171
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Joshua G. Fuller
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City LOUISBURG
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 27549-8557
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Joshua G. Fuller
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City LOUISBURG
Operator State NC
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 27549-8557
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 LHZ
Departure City Louisburg
Departure State NC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 7NC5
Destination City Bunn
Destination State NC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 26 2012 2:15PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 04
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 80
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --