Hesler-Noble Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ellisville, Mississippi 39437
Saturday, December 13, 2014 14:40 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On December 13, 2014, about 1440 central standard time, an experimental amateur-built Wade Revelation, N783QJ, experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight near Ellisville, Mississippi. The pilot subsequently made an off airport forced landing to a road that ran through a cemetery. The commercial pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage to a longeron. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight, which departed from the Hesler-Nobel Field (LUL), Laurel, Mississippi, about 1425. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot reported that he was in cruise flight and the engine power was set about 75 percent when the engine made a "little skip." He immediately turned the airplane in the direction of the airport; however, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The only clear area to land, that he observed, was a road running through a cemetery. While on approach to the road, the left wing struck a tree, the airplane veered to the left, and subsequently impacted a tombstone. He further reported that the airplane's fuel tank was approximately three-fourths full when the engine ceased operation. Initial examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the engine would partially rotate through one revolution and then seize. During operation of the engine a "metallic scraping" was audibly observed. The spark plugs were removed and one spark plug was "really dry." The fuel/oil mixture was examined and appeared normal in color. The engine was retained for further examination.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/13/2014
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1440
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Ellisville
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 39437
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 313628N
Event Location Longitude 0891152W
Event Location Airport HESLER-NOBLE FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LUL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 4
Degrees magnetic from airport 198
Airport Elevation 238
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1435 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 219
Weather Observation Facility ID KPIB
Elevation of weather observation facility 298
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.23
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) --
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern C-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2014 2:30PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N783QJ
NTSB Number ERA15LA077
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 THOMAS R WADE
Aircraft Model REVELATION
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number RE00/0007
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 Jan 9 2014 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 81
Airframe Hours 81
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name WADE THOMAS R
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City ELLISVILLE
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 394375161
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name WADE THOMAS R
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City ELLISVILLE
Operator State MS
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 394375161
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 No
Departure Airport Code LUL
Departure City LAUREL
Departure State MS
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1425
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code LUL
Destination City LAUREL
Destination State MS
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2014 2:30PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --