Numidia Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Numidia, Pennsylvania 17820
Friday, August 16, 2013 18:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On August 16, 2013, approximately 1815 eastern daylight time, an experimental light sport Fetterman Firestar II, N598LF, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing at Numidia Airport (8PA0), Numidia, Pennsylvania. The certificated sport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, which was originating at the time of the accident. The flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot stated that he performed an engine run-up at 4,000 rpm for about four minutes, with no anomalies observed. He then taxied the airplane to the end of the turf runway, performed a second run-up, and stated that all engine indications were within parameters. The pilot applied engine power to initiate the takeoff, and the airplane lifted off and climbed to about 300 feet above ground level. The engine subsequently began to “surge,” fluctuating between 6,200 rpm and about 4,500 rpm, and the pilot elected to return to the airport. Upon touchdown on the runway, the right landing gear wheel axle bracket fractured, the gear leg dug into the turf, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported substantial damage to the airframe’s tubular structure. Examination of the airplane was scheduled for a later date.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/16/2013
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1815
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Numidia
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 17820
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 405158N
Event Location Longitude 0762350W
Event Location Airport Numidia Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 8PA0
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 1070
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1753 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 274
Weather Observation Facility ID SEG
Elevation of weather observation facility 463
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
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) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
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) 30.16
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KSEG 162153Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 25/10 A30
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) --
NTSB Notification Source Pilot
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 26 2013 10:17AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N598LF
NTSB Number ERA13LA365
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name FETTERMAN LANNY R
Aircraft Model FIRESTAR II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 598
Certified Max Gross Weight 732
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 May 3 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 72
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name FETTERMAN LANNY R
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City CATAWISSA
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 17820-8115
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name FETTERMAN LANNY R
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City CATAWISSA
Operator State PA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 17820-8115
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 8PA0
Departure City Numidia
Departure State PA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1615
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 8PA0
Destination City Numidia
Destination State PA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 26 2013 10:18AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 08L
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --