# NTSB ATL04LA001: Johnson Walter A Hornet, N1928J, Saint Marys, GA, October 1, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 1, 2003, 18:03 local (22:03 UTC) - Place: Saint Marys, GA - Coordinates: 30.757778, -81.562225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7578&lon=-81.5622&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58088 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58088/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=58088 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA001 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to improper maintenance and the pilot's failure to maintian airspeed during the attempted forced landing that resulted in a stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - maintenance - improper, owner/pilot mechanic (contributing factor) - ignition system,spark plug - loss,total (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Loss of control - in flight, emergency landing - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis According to witnesses in the area, the airplane had been circling when they heard the engine sputter. The airplane descended nose down behind a stand of trees and they heard a "boom". Several witnesses in the area telephoned the 911-operator and reported the accident. Examination of the wreckage on-scene found the airplane in a nose down attitude. Examination of the engine found one of the two sparkplugs out of its cylinder hanging by the sparkplug wire. During a telephone interview with the brother of the pilot he stated that about 15 to 20 hours prior to the accident they had done some maintenance on the engine including changing the spark plugs. He further stated that he believes that the spark plugs were not tightened adequately which allowed one to "blow out causing the loss of engine power". ## Factual narrative On October 1, 2003, at 1803 eastern daylight time, a Walter A. Johnson homebuilt Hornet experimental airplane, N1928J, registered to and operated by the non-certificated pilot, collided with the ground following a loss of engine power in St. Mary’s, Georgia. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The non-certificated pilot sustained fatal injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated from a private grass strip in St. Mary’s, Georgia, at an undetermined time. According to witnesses in the area, the airplane had been circling when they heard the engine sputter. The airplane descended nose down behind a stand of trees and they heard a "boom". Several witnesses in the area telephoned the 911-operator and reported the accident. Examination of the wreckage on-scene found the airplane in a nose down attitude. Examination of the engine found one of the two sparkplugs out of its cylinder hanging by the sparkplug wire. During a telephone interview with the brother of the pilot he stated that about 15 to 20 hours prior to the accident they had done some maintenance on the engine including changing the spark plugs. He further stated that he believes that the spark plugs were not tightened adequately which allowed one to "blow out causing the loss of engine power". The Division of Forensic Sciences, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, State of Georgia conducted a postmortem examination of the pilot on October 2, 2003. The reported cause of death was "Blunt Force Injury, and the Manner of death was Accident". The Forensic Toxicology Research Section, Federal Aviation Administration, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma performed postmortem toxicology of specimens from the pilot. There was no Carbon Monoxide, no Cyanide or Ethanol detected in Blood, and no drugs detected in the Liver. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1928J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1928J-2005-01-31), registration cancelled 2005-01-31, S/N 0043, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Johnson Walter A Hornet - Registry model: [Johnson Walter A HORNET](https://openairdocs.org/model/johnson-walter-a-hornet) (registry code 05611Z4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0043 - Airframe hours: 47 - Engines: Hirth 2703 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Glen M. Readdick - Registered owner: Glen & Rock Readdick - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, September 12, 2003, 5 hours before - Departed: PVT, Kingsland, GA - Destination: PVT, Kingsland, GA - Airport: PVT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: fatal; seat: left; toxicology performed ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: SSI, 20 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20031001026819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031001026819A), Oct 1, 2003: Amtr HORNET, St Marys, GA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) On 10/01/03 at approx 1803 EDT a home built ultralight aircraft N1928J piloted by glenn readdick a non-certificated airman experienced engine failure,… ## Other investigations on N1928J (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 MIA02LA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA171), Sep 21, 2002: Johnson Hornet (N1928J), Archdale, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during final approach, which resulted in the airplane drifting off course and impacting with trees. Factors in this accident were the pilot's… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 2, 2005, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=58088. 134 KB in all. - Police Report (partial) (item 1, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40230053&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Police%20Report%20(partial)-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 2, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355932&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.