# NTSB CEN15LA413: Venus CP328 Super Emeraude, N328TV, Port Wing, WI, September 5, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 5, 2015, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Port Wing, WI - Coordinates: 46.768611, -91.38861 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7686&lon=-91.3886&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 21, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91983 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA413 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91983/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91983 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA413 ## Probable cause The pilot’s undershooting the landing area and the subsequent impact with a hay bale. Also causal to the accident was the operation of the airplane in conditions conducive to carburetor icing, which reduced the engine power during the landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Venus Thomas E CP328 SUPER EMERAUDE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05623G3), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Venus Thomas E CP328 SUPER EMERAUDE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=05623G3), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Venus Thomas E CP328 SUPER EMERAUDE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=05623G3), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Venus Thomas E CP328 SUPER EMERAUDE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=05623G3), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370); cases with it: [Venus Thomas E CP328 SUPER EMERAUDE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=05623G3), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Venus Thomas E CP328 SUPER EMERAUDE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05623G3), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Venus Thomas E CP328 SUPER EMERAUDE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05623G3), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Venus Thomas E CP328 SUPER EMERAUDE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05623G3), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that she had flown the airplane locally to reduce fuel weight and was on approach to land on a hay field. During the approach, the pilot turned on the carburetor heat and the fuel boost pump. The pilot reported that, after she turned the airplane onto the final approach, she thought that it was a little low, so she applied engine power to reach the airstrip. She further stated that, although the engine continued to run, there was a lack of engine power. The pilot pulled back slightly on the flight controls to avoid a hay bale, but the airplane's tail struck the bale. The airplane flipped over and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of serious carburetor icing at glide power. Given the weather conditions, it is likely that the carburetor accumulated ice during the short approach but that insufficient time existed for the carburetor heat to melt the ice, which led to the reduction of engine power. ## Factual narrative On September 5, 2015, about 1015 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Venus CP328 Super Emeraude airplane, N328TV, impacted a hay bale and nosed over during landing on a private airstrip near Port Wing, Wisconsin. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The fuselage was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site about the time of the accident, and the flight was not operating on a flight plan. The local flight originated from the airstrip about 1010.According to the pilot's accident report, the overall plan was to fly Young Eagles from a hay field at the annual Port Wing Fall Festival. The field was approximately 2,500 feet long with slightly rolling terrain. The runway's grass was long and wet from rain the night before. The pilot felt that the grass reduced airplane performance and had a 40-foot wide strip mowed on the smooth part of field. The pilot made another takeoff and landing on the recently mowed strip and felt that it took longer to attain flying speed; however, it did not seem unreasonable at the time. There were a few hay bales at the north end of the strip but the pilot felt that they would not be in the way. The pilot started a subsequent takeoff with a passenger on board and aborted the takeoff due to the way the airplane was accelerating. After the aborted takeoff, the pilot elected to fly the airplane solo to reduce some fuel weight. During this accident flight, the pilot turned carburetor (carb) heat and the fuel boost pump on. The pilot's report, in part, stated: Turned to final and felt I was a little low and applied power. Throttle went in, engine continued to run, no roughness or dead cylinder, but there was a definite lack of power. Pulled back slightly to avoid hay bale [at] the end of field and the tail stuck the bale. The plane flipped over and came to rest inverted. At 1053, the recorded weather at the John F Kennedy Memorial Airport (ASX), near Ashland, Wisconsin, about 124 degrees and 23 miles from the accident site, was: Wind 200 degrees at 4 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 27 degrees C; dew point 22 degrees C; altimeter 29.99 inches of mercury. The temperature and dew point at ASX was plotted on an icing chart. Their intersection was in the serious icing range at glide power. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions and was "convinced" that carb icing occurred due to "a rather short approach plus the weather that the carb heat did not have time to take care of any residual ice." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N328TV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N328TV-2018-08-03), registration cancelled 2018-08-03, S/N 118, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VENUS CP328 SUPER EMERAUDE - Registry model: [Venus Thomas E CP328 SUPER EMERAUDE](https://openairdocs.org/model/venus-thomas-e-cp328-super-emeraude) (registry code 05623G3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 118 - Year built: 1993 - Airframe hours: 449.4 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2C 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 20, 2015 - Departed: PORT WING, WI - Destination: PORT WING, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 14, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,040.5 total, 40.4 in this make and model, 1,040.5 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KASX, 23 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 20150905015079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150905015079A), Sep 5, 2015: Venus Thomas E CP328 SUPER EMERAUDE, Port Wing, WI, Substantial damage. The pilot was too low while on approach to a 2500' x 150' cut hay field. The pilot advanced the throttle to correct the situation but the engine did not… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 1, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91983. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434361&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434362&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Miscellaneous Information - Icing Chart (item 3, .PDF, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434363&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20Information%20-%20Icing%20Chart-Master.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.