# NTSB BFO93LA160: Smyth Sidewinder, N2116B, Point Pleasant, WV, September 6, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 6, 1993, 11:40 local (15:40 UTC) - Place: Point Pleasant, WV - Coordinates: 38.850376, -82.129386 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8504&lon=-82.1294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8808 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO93LA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8808/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO93LA160 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDEPATH. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - object - animal(s) - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ON A SHORT FINAL APPROACH THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A DEER. THE PILOT SAID THAT THE AIRPLANE NOSED DOWN AND THEN THE GEAR TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED UP ONTO THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST. A POST IMPACT GROUND FIRE CONSUMED THE AIRPLANE. EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 30 FEET SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. ## Factual narrative On Monday, September 6, 1993, at 1140 eastern daylight time, a home built Smith Sidewinder, N2116B, owned, operated, and piloted by John J. Jewett of Wheelersburg, Ohio, struck a deer on short final for runway 25 at the Point Pleasant Airport, Point Pleasant, West Virginia, and subsequently landed short of the runway. The airplane was destroyed by a ground fire. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The cross country flight originated from Minford, Ohio, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated, "On short final I saw two deer 125 to 150 ft to the right of the runway. After they disappeared from view under the right wing I thought I was past them. They evidently spooked and started to run. While in ground-effect (approx 6-10 ft AGL) the nose of the aircraft pitched downward rapidly as I felt a slight bump. A quick rearward pull on the 'stick' almost got a full recovery. The main wheels touched the dirt lightly but the nosewheel dug into the dirt 12 ft short of the blacktop. It [the nosewheel] broke off, and the plane slid 310 ft. to a stop." The pilot stated that about two minutes after the airplane came to rest, he saw smoke coming from the airplane. He stated that the airplane was "slowly" consumed by fire. Examination of the accident site revealed ground marks about 30 feet before the approach end of runway 25. (See attached diagram). The ground marks went up onto the runway and continued down the runway about 340 feet where they came to rest at the airplane wreckage. The airplane was consumed by a post-impact ground fire. No injured deer was found on or near the airport. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2116B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2116B-1995-11-14), registration cancelled 1995-11-14, S/N 8741 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SMYTH SIDEWINDER - Registry model: [Jewett John R SIDEWINDER](https://openairdocs.org/model/jewett-john-r-sidewinder) (registry code 05649CE) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 8741 - Airframe hours: 90 - Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John Jewett - Registered owner: John J. Jewett - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 20, 1993, 15 hours before - Departed: PMH, MINFORD, OH - Airport: 3I2, Point Pleasant, runway 25, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 635 total, 87 in this make and model, 610 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PKB, 40 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 19930906041859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930906041859A), Sep 6, 1993: Amtrsy SIDEWINDER, Point Pleasant, WV, Destroyed. Pilot reported deer strike 30 feet short of runway. Nose wheel collapsed. Slid onto runway. Burned. No deer found. 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.