# Accident 19990906046129A: Valenza Samuel VP-II, Westmore, VT, September 6, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 6, 1999, 07:44 local time
- Place: Westmore, VT
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.7714° N, 72.0548° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Westmore, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7714&lon=-72.0548&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8535B, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8535B-2012-08-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Valenza Samuel VP-II (registry code 0563683, https://openairdocs.org/model/valenza-samuel-vp-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC99LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA221) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990906046129A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 6, 1999, ABOUT 0800 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A HOMEBUILT VOLKSPLANE, VP-11, N8535B WAS DESTROYED DURING TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP NEAR WESTMORE, VERMONT. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL TEST FLIGHT WHICH WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. THIS WAS PILOTS FIRST FLIGHT IN THIS AIRCRAFT AND HE HAD CHANGED THE PROPELLER BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN ITS TAKEOFF ROLL FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE GRASS AIRSTRIP. IT LIFTED OFF AFTER ROLLING 1,000 FEET BUT FAILED TO GAIN ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE FIFTY FOOT TREES AT THE END OF THE GRASS AIRSTRIP. THE AIRCRAFT SHEARED OFF TREE TOPS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC99LA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA221), Sep 6, 1999: Valenza Volksplane VP-II (N8535B), Westmore, VT, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from the trees. A related factor was the pilot's lack of familiarity with the airplane.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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