# NTSB GAA17CA087: Jack Fehling Celebrity, N28JF, North Hampton, NH, December 4, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 4, 2016, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: North Hampton, NH - Coordinates: 42.960556, -70.830276 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9606&lon=-70.8303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 13, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94458 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94458/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94458 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA087 ## Probable cause The pilot’s unstabilized approach, which resulted in the biplane being low and striking trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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: [Jack Fehling CELEBRITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=056309B), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Jack Fehling CELEBRITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056309B), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Jack Fehling CELEBRITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=056309B), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Jack Fehling CELEBRITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=056309B), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Approach: Altitude deviation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282); cases with it: [Jack Fehling CELEBRITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282/sequence.md?model=056309B), [All aircraft, 104 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/282/sequence.md) - [Approach: Course deviation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281); cases with it: [Jack Fehling CELEBRITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281/sequence.md?model=056309B), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/281/sequence.md) - [Approach: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Jack Fehling CELEBRITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=056309B), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Jack Fehling CELEBRITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056309B), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Other: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Jack Fehling CELEBRITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056309B), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Evacuation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460); cases with it: [Jack Fehling CELEBRITY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md?model=056309B), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/460/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the approach to land, the biplane was low and to the right of the runway centerline. He further reported that to recover from the low altitude he added power, but the biplane struck a tree, which impaired its controllability. Subsequently, the biplane glided into small tree(s) and brush and came to rest nose down. The biplane sustained substantial damage to all four wings and struts. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the approach to land, the biplane was low and to the right of the runway centerline. He further reported that to recover from the low altitude he added power, but the biplane struck a tree, which impaired its controllability. Subsequently, the biplane glided into small tree(s) and brush coming to rest nose down. The biplane sustained substantial damage to all four wings and struts. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N28JF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N28JF-2017-03-27), registration cancelled 2017-03-27, S/N AV1090, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JACK FEHLING CELEBRITY (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Jack Fehling CELEBRITY](https://openairdocs.org/model/jack-fehling-celebrity) (registry code 056309B) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-200A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200a) (registry code 17404, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: AV1090 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 103 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 15, 2016 - Departed: BVY, BEVERLY, MA - Destination: 7B3, North Hampton, NH - Airport: 7B3, Hampton Airfield, runway 02, 2,100 × 170 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; last flight review October 6, 2016; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 809 total, 31 in this make and model, 809 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KPSM, 7 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 20161204022789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161204022789A), Dec 4, 2016: Jack Fehling CELEBRITY, Hampton, NH, Destroyed. On December 4, 2016 the pilot in command (PIC) departed beverly municipal airport (bvy) en route to Hampton airport (7B3). While turning from base leg to final… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94458. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448789&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident photos (item 2, .PDF, 794 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448790&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20photos-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.