# NTSB CHI90LA217: Harper Volksplane WE-1, N4509, Kingman, KS, August 8, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 7, 1990, 20:45 local (Aug 8, 1990, 01:45 UTC)
- Place: Kingman, KS
- Coordinates: 37.640209, -98.110443 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6402&lon=-98.1104&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14739
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90LA217
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14739/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA217

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND SPIN.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - encountered, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT TURNED ONTO A RIGHT DOWNWIND, AND WAS OBSERVED IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, THEN DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW. THE ACFT SUBSEQENTLY COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN IN A NOSE DOWN, RIGHT WING LOW ATTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4509](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4509-1994-01-31), registration cancelled 1994-01-31, S/N 93029 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HARPER VOLKSPLANE WE-1 (VOLKSPLANE)
- Registry model: [Harper VOLKSPLANE WE-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/harper-volksplane-we-1) (registry code 0562415) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 93029
- Airframe hours: 513
- Engines: Volkswagen 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Peterson-Crow
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 30, 1990

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 2,743 total, 15 in this make and model, 1,951 as pilot in command, 190 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ICT, 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 19900807031019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900807031019A), Aug 7, 1990: Amtren VOLKSPLANE*, Kingman, KS, Substantial damage. Dived into ground shortly after takeoff. Pilot does not remember flight due head injury.

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.

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