- Date
- November 6, 1996, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place
- Blackstone, VA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N85JVVanatta KR-2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 30, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19961106034859A
- Case key
- 28160
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s), and failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a loss of control (stall) and collision with the ground.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Witnesses stated that they saw the airplane takeoff from runway 22, in a shallow climb, and the engine sputtered and quit. The airplane rocked side to side, then started turning right, then rolled left until it was inverted. The airplane struck the ground inverted about 150 feet off the right side of the runway. There was about 1500 feet of runway remaining when the engine stopped and the airplane turned right. No reason was found for the loss of engine lost power.
Factual narrative
On November 6, 1996 about 1645 eastern standard time, a Vanatta KR-2 amateur built experimental airplane, N85JV, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain after a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff at the Allen C. Perkinson Municipal Airport, Blackstone, Virginia. The pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated approximately 1644 edt.
Witnesses stated that they saw the airplane takeoff from runway 22, in a shallow climb and the engine sputtered and quit. The airplane rocked side to side then started turning right then rolled left until it was inverted. The airplane stuck the ground inverted about 150 feet off the right side of the runway. There was about 1500 feet of runway remaining when the engine stopped and the airplane turned right.
During examination of the wreckage the FAA was able to establish flight control continuity, and that the propeller was not rotating at impact. In addition, they found that the engine crankshaft was broken off at the propeller flange, and the magneto housing was crushed. A determination as to why the engine quit shortly after takeoff was not possible due to impact damage.
An interview with the pilot found that he was unable to remember any of the events that occurred during the accident. The pilot was sent an NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Pilot Operator Report on November 13, 1996, but it had not been returned at the time of this report.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N85JV
- Reported as
- Vanatta KR-2
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 408701401
- Airframe hours
- 76
- Engine
- Volkswagen, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Keefe E. Wickey
- Departed
- BKT
- Airport
- BKT · Blackstone, runway 22, 4,632 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 63
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 440 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FVX
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.