Zuehl Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marion, Texas 78124
Thursday, June 27, 2013 21:16 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On June 27, 2013, at 2116 central daylight time, a Dankelman Vans RV-7A, N445RV, impacted trees and a power line at the Zuehl Airport (1TE4), Marion, Texas. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Huber Airpark (E70), Sequin, Texas, approximately 2045. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, witnesses saw the pilot make two attempts to land on runway 17 at the unlit airstrip. The accident occurred on the pilot's third attempt at landing. There was a post-impact fire.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/27/2013
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 2116
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Marion
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78124
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 293017N
Event Location Longitude 0981010W
Event Location Airport Zuehl
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1TE4
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 592
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2058 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID KRND
Elevation of weather observation facility 762
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Night
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) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.93
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KRND 280258Z AUTO 16009KT 10SM CLR 30/20 A29
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source FAA ASW ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 2 2013 11:59AM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N445RV
NTSB Number CEN13LA377
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PETER G DANKELMAN VANS
Aircraft Model RV-7A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 71938
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats 2
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DANKELMAN PETER G
Aircraft Owner Street Address 126 NORTHRIDGE
Aircraft Owner City NEW BRAUNFELS
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78132-2556
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Peter G. Dankelman
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address On File
Operator City New Braunfels
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 78132-2556
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 E70
Departure City Seguin
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2045
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 1TE4
Destination City Marion
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 28 2013 3:38PM
User who most recently changed record scoa
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --