# NTSB ERA14CA234: Sam R Peachey Just Aircraft Highla, N209SP, Roxbury, PA, May 11, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 11, 2014, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Roxbury, PA - Coordinates: 40.105556, -77.663055 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1056&lon=-77.6631&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 5, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 89192 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA234 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89192/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89192 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA234 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during low altitude maneuvering. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Sam R Peachey JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05631BT), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sam R Peachey JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05631BT), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Sam R Peachey JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05631BT), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Sam R Peachey JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05631BT), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Sam R Peachey JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05631BT), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was flying about 500 feet above the ground, dropping candy to children as part of a church outing. He encountered a "rotor" wind off the nearby mountain and when he initiated a turn, the wing stalled. He lost control of the airplane and crashed near a church camp. The airplane came to rest, inverted. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the airplane and confirmed substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was flying about 500 feet above the ground, dropping candy to children as part of a church outing. He encountered a "rotor" wind off the nearby mountain and when he initiated a turn, the wing stalled. He lost control of the airplane and crashed near a church camp. The airplane came to rest, inverted. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the airplane and confirmed substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and empennage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N209SP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N209SP-2021-01-30), registration cancelled 2021-01-30, S/N JA236-04-11, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SAM R PEACHEY JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Sam R Peachey JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLA](https://openairdocs.org/model/sam-r-peachey-just-aircraft-highla) (registry code 05631BT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JA236-04-11 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 168 - Engines: Rotax 912 UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Peachey Sam R - Registered owner: Peachey Sam R - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 25, 2013, 8 hours before - Departed: N68, Chambersburg, PA - Destination: N68, Chambersburg, PA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 18, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,250 total, 168 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: HGR, 17 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 20140511009199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140511009199A), May 11, 2014: Sam R Peachey JUST AIRCRAFT HIGHLANDER, Newburg, PA, Substantial damage. Pilot turned to base, stalled left wing, impacted ground. Bounced into a tree and came to rest inverted. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89192. 7.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 404 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412665&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Correspondence with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412667&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record – Interview with Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412669&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Interview%20with%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 – View of Aircraft Fuselage from Left Side (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412671&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20Aircraft%20Fuselage%20from%20Left%20Side%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – Empennage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412672&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Empennage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)%0D%0A-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.