- Date
- July 14, 2001, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Hernando, FL
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N1777WPitenpol Aircamper 1933
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 25, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20010714018729A
- Case key
- 52715
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
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall.
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
According to the airplane's owner, at 800 feet cruise altitude, and within 5 miles of the destination airport, at a speed of 80 mph, and shortly after the pilot reduced power the engine stopped. The pilot attempted a re-start, without using carburetor heat, and was not successful. He attempted a forced landing in a field, but about 80 feet AGL and at 50 mph, he attempted a sharp bank, which resulted in a stall and spin into ground. The airplane ignited 60 seconds after impact. The engine was placed on test stand and ran without any discrepancies. In addition, the engine was torn down and inspected by an A&P mechanic. No damage of any type was found.
Factual narrative
On July 14, 2001, about 1230 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Pitenpol Aircamper 1933, N1777W, registered to a private individual, operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, impacted with terrain during a forced landing near Hernando, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The commercial-rated pilot, and a passenger/owner reported serious injuries. The flight had departed from Spruce Creek, Florida, en route to Hernando, at 1100.
The pilot stated, "...engine failure occurred...pilot attempted to re-start using back-up ignition with no results. Pilot then located an emergency landing site and negotiated landing...upon impact...landing gear collapsed and wing collapsed...fuel tank was ruptured and ignited...."
According to the airplane's owner, who was seated in the front seat, "..…flight normal to within 5 miles of destination. Cruise speed 80 mph. Cruise altitude 800 feet. Shortly after power reduction to low cruise setting, engine quits. Pilot attempts re-start, but does not use carb heat. Pilot attempts a landing on a smooth field…..at approximately 80 feet AGL and 50 mph, pilot attempts sharp bank. Plane stalls and spins into ground..…plane ignites 60 seconds after impact..…engine recovered on Oct. 15, 2001, put on test stand and run. Engine runs perfectly. Engine torn down and inspected by A&P mechanic. No damage of any type found."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1777W
- Reported as
- Pitenpol Aircamper 1933
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- PS1
- Airframe hours
- 900
- Engine
- GM Corvair, 95 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- William E. Wynne
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 14, 2001 · 25 hours before
- Departed
- 7FL6 · Spruce Creek, FL
- Destination
- 5FL7 · Hernando, FL
- Airport
- 5FL7 · Twelve Oaks, runway 04, 2,655 × 100 ft, grass/turf
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
- 56
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- February 16, 2000
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 979 total · 2 in this make and model · 837 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 77 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.87 inHg
- Observed at
- BKV, 35 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 29, 2002, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 884 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.