# Accident 20010929028579A: Von Claparede Clemens C PRECEPTOR-ULTRAPUP, Dublin, VA, September 29, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 29, 2001, 17:40 local time
- Place: Dublin, VA
- Airport: New River Valley Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.2350° N, 80.6169° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2350&lon=-80.6169&mi=10
- Aircraft: N66VC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N66VC-2001-11-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Von Claparede Clemens C PRECEPTOR-ULTRAPUP (registry code 05606XL, https://openairdocs.org/model/von-claparede-clemens-c-preceptor-ultrapup) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD01LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD01LA108) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010929028579A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DEPARTED THE NEW RIVER VALLEY AIRPORT (PSK), DUBLIN, VIRGINIA, APPROX. 1630 FOR A LOCAL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED HE DE NOT ENCOUNTER ANY ADVERSE CONDITIONS ON A SIMILAR FLIGHT EARLIER THE SAME DAY. ON HIS WAY BACK TO THE AIRPORT, ON THIS SECOND FLIGHT OF TH E DAY, THE PILOT APPROACHED A MOUNTAIN RIDGE FROM A 45-DEGREE ANGLE, "AT THE SAME ALTITUDE AS THE RIDGE." WHEN THE PILOT REALIZED HE WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB OVER THE RIDGE, HE TURNED THE AIRCRAFT BACK TOWARD THE VALLEY. DURING THE TURN THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A WINDSHEAR. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER; HOWEVER THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO LOSE ALTITUDE UNTIL HITTING THE TREES AND SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED THE GROUND. (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2001, AT 1650 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A HOMEBUILT PRECEPTOR-ULTRA, N66VC, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING IMPACT WITH TERRAIN NEAR DUBLIN, VIRGINIA. THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DEPARTED THE NEW RIVER VALLEY AIRPOR                                       T (PSK), DUBLIN, VIRGINIA, ABOUT 1630, FOR A LOCAL SIGHTSEEING FLIGHT. ON HIS WAY BACK TO THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT APPROACHED A MOUNTAIN RIDGE FROM A 45-DEGREE ANGLE, "AT THE SAME ALTITUDE AS THE RIDGE." AS HE FLEW CLOSER TO THE RIDGE, THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A "MODEST DOWNDRAFT," AND THE PILOT ADDED POWER TO MAINTAIN HIS ALTITUDE. WHEN THE PILOT NOTICED THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CLIMB OVER THE RIDGE, HE TURNED THE AIRPLANE BACK TOWARD THE VALLEY TO REGAIN ALTITUDE. HE STATED THAT DURING THE TURN, THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A "SUBSTANTIAL DOWNDRAFT COMBINED WITH WINDSHEAR." THE PILOT ADDED FULL POWER; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE'S ALTITUDE CONTINUED TO DECREASE AT ABOUT 2,500 FEET PER MINUTE. DURING THE TURN, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES AND THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) INSPECTOR, REVEALED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE COWLING, FUSELAGE, AND BOTH WINGS. FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED FROM THE COCKPIT TO ALL CONTROL SURFACES, AND THE ENGINE WAS ROTATED 360 DEGREES BY THE PROPELLER. WEATHER REPORTED AT PSK, AT 1641, INCLUDED WINDS FROM 330 DEGREES AT 11 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 15 KNOTS, 10 MILES VISIBILITY, SCATTERED CLOUDS AT 5,000 FEET, TEMPERATURE 17 DEGREES CELSIUS, DEW POINT 6 DEGREES CELSIUS, AND ALTIMETER SETTING 30.15 IN HG.

## 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 IAD01LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD01LA108), Sep 29, 2001: Von Claparede Clemen Preceptor-Ultra (N66VC), Dublin, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance, which resulted in the airplane's collision with terrain. A factor was the downdraft.

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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