# NTSB BFO96LA013: Zenair CH 2000, N9151Z, Saluda, VA, October 22, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 22, 1995, 14:20 local (18:20 UTC) - Place: Saluda, VA - Coordinates: 37.599803, -76.58979 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5998&lon=-76.5898&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9106 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO96LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9106/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO96LA013 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during an attempted go around. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - object - tree(s) - evasive maneuver - abrupt, pilot in command - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING HIS FIRST SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. HE REPORTED THAT UPON ARRIVAL AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT, HE PERFORMED A LOW APPROACH AND AN INTENTIONAL GO AROUND TO GET A FEEL FOR THE WINDS AND THE SHORT RUNWAY. THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS COMFORTABLE WITH THE LANDING CONDITIONS, AND RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT FOR A FULL STOP LANDING. HE STATED THAT THE APPROACH SEEMED NORMAL UNTIL JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, WHEN A STRONG GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE AIRPLANE AND PUSHED IT TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY. THE STUDENT PILOT INITIATED A GO AROUND. HE REPORTED THAT HE APPLIED FULL POWER BUT DID NOT HAVE TIME TO RAISE THE FLAPS. HE STATED THAT THE WIND BLEW THE AIRPLANE TOWARD A GROVE OF TREES, AND THAT HE PULLED THE YOKE BACK AND BANKED TO THE LEFT IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE TREES. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A SOYBEAN FIELD ADJACENT TO THE GROVE OF TREES. ## Factual narrative On October 22, 1995, at 1420 eastern daylight time, a Zenair CH 2000, N9151Z, impacted the ground during a go around attempt at Hummel Field, in Saluda, Virginia. The student pilot, the sole occupant, received serious injuries and the airplane was destroyed. A VFR flight plan had been filed and activated. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Shannon Airport, Fredericksburg, Virginia at 1339 eastern daylight time. The student pilot stated that he was on his first solo cross country flight. He reported that, upon arrival at Saluda, he decided to execute a go around in order to get a feel for the winds and the short runway. The student pilot stated that the go around went as planned and he felt comfortable with the landing conditions. He reported that his airport traffic pattern and airspeed control for the full stop landing was just how his instructor had shown him, and that everything was normal until just prior to touchdown. He stated that at that point a sudden gust of wind lifted the airplane and pushed it to the left of the runway. The student pilot thought he was too high to land on the remaining runway, so he performed a go around. He stated that he applied full power but did not have the time to bring the flaps up. In his written statement, the student pilot stated "...the wind had blown me...toward a grove of hardwood trees... ." He indicated that he felt that his only option was to pull the yoke back and turn left to climb over the trees. The student pilot stated that he thought he was climbing very steeply and felt that he had missed the trees. The next thing the pilot was able to remember was when he impacted the ground in a field near trees. The wreckage was located in a field between two groves of trees, approximately 350 feet from the runway on its original heading. There was no evidence or claim of preimpact mechanical malfunction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9151Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9151Z-1997-04-16), registration cancelled 1997-04-16, S/N 200002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ZENAIR CH 2000 - Registry model: [Zenair CH 2000](https://openairdocs.org/model/zenair-ch-2000) (registry code 9950100) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20-0002 - Airframe hours: 160 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-N2C 116 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bonnie Legwin, doing business as Dettinger Aviation - Registered owner: Zenair Ltd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 18, 1995, 5 hours before - Departed: EZF, FREDERICKSBURG, VA - Destination: W75 - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: W75, Hummel Field, runway 18, 2,200 × 45 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 34 total, 4 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 7 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RIC, 42 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 19951022033809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951022033809A), Oct 22, 1995: Zinair CH2000, Saluda, VA, Destroyed. First solo crosscountry. Gust lifted aircraft. Began go around. Full flaps. Drifted. Banked avoid trees. Hit ground 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.