Bert's Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Birdsboro, Pennsylvania 19508
Wednesday, August 27, 2014 15:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, he taxied to the active runway for takeoff. The takeoff was normal and he turned downwind for a practice landing. During the landing flare the airplane "bounced," and power was added in an attempt to perform a go-around. The airplane "stalled" and impacted the runway resulting in a post-crash fire that destroyed the airplane. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper landing flare and recovery from a bounced landing resulting in loss of aircraft control.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/27/2014
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Birdsboro
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 19508
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 401708N
Event Location Longitude 0754550W
Event Location Airport Bert's Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PS38
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 240
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1554 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID PTW
Elevation of weather observation facility 302
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4600
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33318
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 Oct 16 2014 9:04AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N61148
NTSB Number ERA14CA410
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BERTAGNA JOHN
Aircraft Model JUST HIGHLANDER
Aircraft Series Identifier NO SERIES
Aircraft Serial Number JA2890213
Certified Max Gross Weight 992
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 --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BERTAGNA JOHN
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City BIRDSBORO
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 195088719
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name BERTAGNA JOHN
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City BIRDSBORO
Operator State PA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 195088719
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
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 PS38
Departure City Birdsboro
Departure State PA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1515
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PS38
Destination City Birdsboro
Destination State PA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 16 2014 9:04AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 26
Runway Length 2264
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --