# NTSB ATL95LA019: Weeks Glasair SH2F, N169DW, Timmonsville, SC, November 27, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 27, 1994, 11:10 local (16:10 UTC) - Place: Timmonsville, SC - Coordinates: 34.129631, -79.939308 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1296&lon=-79.9393&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 18, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3500 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3500/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA019 ## Probable cause The pilot's continued operation into known adverse weather conditions with a known aircraft deficiency, and his ensuing spatial disorientation, which resulted in ground impact during an uncontrolled descent. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - vacuum system - failure,total (cause) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (cause) - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause) - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis A COUPLE MADE A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT TO VISIT FRIENDS WHO WERE IN ANOTHER STATE. THE HUSBAND HAD A PRIVATE CERTIFICATE WITH AN INSTRUMENT RATING, AND HIS WIFE HAD A PRIVATE CERTIFICATE. BOTH HAD AN AIRPLANE SINGLE ENGINE LAND RATING. DURING THE FLIGHT THE VACUUM PUMP FAILED, AND IT WAS NOT REPAIRED DURING THE VISIT. FOLLOWING THE WEEKEND VISIT, THEY WERE RETURNING HOME. PRIOR TO DEPARTING, THE HUSBAND OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING FOR A VFR FLIGHT. VFR WAS NOT RECOMMENDED BY THE FSS SPECIALIST BECAUSE OF FORECASTED INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, AT THE EXPECTED ARRIVAL TIME. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED VFR, AND WHEN NEAR THE DESTINATION REQUESTED AN IFR CLARENCE FOR AN APPROACH. THE HUSBAND MADE THE RADIO CALLS TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL, AND STATED THAT THEY WERE BETWEEN CLOUD LAYERS. AFTER INITIATING THE FIRST VECTOR FOR THE INSTRUMENT APPROACH, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE 'GYROS' HAD BEEN LOST. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE AIRPLANE DISAPPEARED FROM RADAR AND RADIO CONTACT. IT IMPACTED, OUT OF CONTROL, INTO A DENSELY WOODED AREA. ## Factual narrative On November 27, 1994, about 1110 eastern standard time, a Weeks Stoddard-Hamilton SH2F Glasair, homebuilt airplane, N169DW, collided with the ground at Timmonsville, South Carolina. The airplane was operated by the pilots under 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules (VFR). Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight. There were two pilots on the airplane, husband and wife. The husband had a private pilot certificate with airplane single engine and instrument ratings. His medical certificate had been denied in 1985 for cardiovascular disease. The wife had a private pilot certificate with airplane single engine land rating. Both pilots were fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed. Origination of the flight was Melbourne, Florida about 0845 on the same day. Prior to departing Melbourne, a male who identified himself as the pilot of N169DW, contacted the St. Petersburg, Florida, Automated Flight Service Station. The person received a weather briefing for a VFR flight to Florence, South Carolina. VFR flight was not recommended. Instrument meteorological conditions were forecasted for Florence, at the pilot's stated approximate arrival time. At 1104, N169DW contacted Florence, South Carolina, approach control. A certified re-recording of the communications between the airplane and Florence air traffic control revealed that a male conducted the radio transmissions from the airplane. He stated that he was in visual conditions between cloud layers. Vectors to Florence for the instrument landing system approach were requested. A clearance was provided for vectors to Florence, for the instrument landing system runway 9 approach. As the airplane was being vectored, the pilot stated that the "gyro" was out. According to one of the controller's statements, the airplane appeared to be in a descent following this transmission. The radar target data tag indicated 400 feet, two seconds later 1400 feet, then "CST" (coast) mode. Radar contact was lost, and the disintegrated wreckage was later located by local law enforcement officers, about one mile north of the Huggins Memorial Airport, Timmonsville, South Carolina. Pilot certification information for both pilots was obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration. Mr. Weeks received his private pilot certificate, with an airplane single engine land rating, on September 22, 1974. He was issued an instrument airplane rating on July 17, 1977. A total of 369.6 pilot-in-command flight hours was listed on his application for the instrument rating. A pilot log was not located, and his total flight hours could not be determined. According to an "Order Assessing Civil Penalty," contained in the certification information, Mr. Weeks was denied a medical certificate in 1985 because of having suffered a heart attack. A Repairman Certificate as an Experimental Aircraft Builder was issued to Mr. Weeks on February 14, 1992, for N169DW. Mrs. Weeks obtained a private certificate with an airplane single engine land rating on August 24, 1985. She listed 108.1 total flight hours on the certificate application. Her pilot log was not located, and her total flight hours could not be determined. A statement was obtained from a friend of the pilots. The friend indicated that the Weeks had visited with he and his wife, on November 22 and 23, in Titusville, Florida. They visited with another couple in Melbourne, Florida, afterwards, leaving Melbourne about 0845 on November 27, 1994. According to the statement, the airplane's vacuum pump had failed on the trip from South Carolina to Florida, and was not repaired prior to departing Melbourne. According to aircraft records, Mr. Weeks purchased the engine on February 7, 1984. The engine log indicated that the overhauled vacuum pump was installed by Mr. Weeks on November 20, 1985. The engine was installed in N169DW on August 2, 1991. Total hours of operation by the vacuum pump could not be determined. Visual examination of the pump revealed that the internal vanes were intact, a portion of the rotor was broken off, and the engine to vacuum pump shear-connection was separated. There was no carbon powder inside the vacuum pump. The pump side of the shear-connection exhibited melted material and rotational scoring. The aircraft log listed the total hours as 109, as of May 12, 1994. the engine log listed 127.7 hours since major overhaul as of September 4, 1994. Post mortem examinations of the pilots were conducted by the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina. The cause of death was listed as multiple trauma. Mr. Weeks was found to have severe atherosclerosis of the aortic arch. Toxicological examinations were completed by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. Those examinations produced negative results for ethanol and other drugs. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N169DW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N169DW-1996-11-08), registration cancelled 1996-11-08, S/N 169 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WEEKS GLASAIR SH2F (GLASAIR SH) - Registry model: [Weeks William Donovan SH2F](https://openairdocs.org/model/weeks-william-donovan-sh2f) (registry code 05691AY) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 169 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Weeks, William D. & Norma, J. - Registered owner: Weeks, W.D.; Weeks, N.J.;Tart, - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 12, 1994 - Departed: MLB, MELBOURNE, FL - Destination: FLO, FLORENCE, SC - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; toxicology performed; flight hours: 370 total ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 10 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FLO, 10 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 19941127039199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941127039199A), Nov 27, 1994: Amtr GLASAIRIII, Timmonsville, SC, Destroyed, 2 fatal. VFR not advised. Low IFR time and known inop vacumm pump proceeded into IMC. Lost control. Crashed. ## Other investigations on N169DW (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 ATL92LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92LA062), Mar 13, 1992: William D. Weeks Glasair I (N169DW), Timmonsville, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE IMPROPER SELECTION OF THE FUEL SECTOR VALVE TO THE OFF POSITION BY THE PILOT. 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.