Private Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Blairs, Virginia 24527
Saturday, June 9, 2012 19:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he was taking off to the west on a 2,500-foot-long, 75-foot-wide, turf runway. The pilot stated that, immediately after the airplane became airborne, he was blinded by the setting sun. The airplane drifted right and impacted airplanes that were parked off the right side of the runway. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the airplaneā€™s left wing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a takeoff into sun glare.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/9/2012
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Blairs
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 24527
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 364412N
Event Location Longitude 0792145W
Event Location Airport Private Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1953 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID DAN
Elevation of weather observation facility 571
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
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) 30.02
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) 30283
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 Aug 17 2012 3:27PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2067
NTSB Number ERA12CA402
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 AERONCA
Aircraft Model 7AC
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2067
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
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 Sep 2 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 4050
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name GIBBS EDWARD L
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City RIDGEWAY
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 24148-3874
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name GIBBS EDWARD L
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City RIDGEWAY
Operator State VA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 24148-3874
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 NONE
Departure City Blairs
Departure State VA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1930
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code VA02
Destination City Ridgeway
Destination State VA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 17 2012 3:27PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --