# NTSB MIA02LA171: Johnson Hornet, N1928J, Archdale, NC, September 21, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 21, 2002, 12:58 local (16:58 UTC) - Place: Archdale, NC - Coordinates: 35.836944, -79.930831 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8369&lon=-79.9308&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 55734 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55734/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA171 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during final approach, which resulted in the airplane drifting off course and impacting with trees. Factors in this accident were the pilot's attention being diverted due to the right door not being secured. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - door - not secured (contributing factor) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot stated that just after takeoff he realized that he forgot to secure the right door. He elected to return for landing and on approach he was lined up with the taxiway, and not the runway as he intended. He attempted to steer the airplane to the right in an attempt to make the runway, but could not attain the needed airspeed to correct the direction of flight, or climb enough to avoid impacting the trees. The pilot said, "…this accident was due to pilot error, nothing to due with the aircraft or power plant...I failed to fly the plane with full attention to landing. I gave too much attention to the door." ## Factual narrative On September 21, 2002, about 1258 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Johnson Hornet, N1928J, registered to and operated by an individual, impacted with trees during landing at Johnson Field Airport, Archdale, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The local personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private-rated pilot reported no injuries. The flight had originated from the same private airstrip at 1255. The pilot stated that just after takeoff from runway 21, he started a left turn at about 300 feet when he "suddenly" realized that he "forgot to secure [the] right door." He said he got concerned that the door would break loose and hit the propeller. He elected to return for landing on runway 03. He approached the runway, and that a "1/4 tail crosswind" pushed the flight towards the trees. He said that he "…failed to monitor the airspeed," and when he attempted to add power to the engine, to climb over trees, he "…couldn't accelerate fast enough" to avoid the upper part of the trees. The pilot said, "…this accident was due to pilot error, nothing to due with the aircraft or power plant...I failed to fly the plane with full attention to landing. I gave too much attention to the door." According to the FAA Inspector's statement, the pilot did not realize upon landing approach that he was lined up with the "taxiway," and not the runway as he intended. The pilot attempted to "steer" the airplane to the right in an attempt to make the runway, but could not "attain" the needed airspeed fast enough to correct the direction of flight, or climb enough to "avoid" the trees. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1928J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1928J-2005-01-31), registration cancelled 2005-01-31, S/N 0043, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Johnson Hornet - Registry model: [Johnson Walter A HORNET](https://openairdocs.org/model/johnson-walter-a-hornet) (registry code 05611Z4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0043 - Airframe hours: 24 - Engines: Hirth 2706 YOXC 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Walter A. Johnson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 72A, Archdale, NC - Destination: Archdale, NC - Airport: 72A, Johnson Field, runway 03, 2,000 × 50 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 6, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 675 total, 24 in this make and model, 660 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KEXX, 28 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 20020921026399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020921026399A), Sep 21, 2002: Amtr HORNET, Archdale, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot departed runway 21 and realized that the right door (passenger door) was open. Pilot made decision to return to airport to secure door. The… ## Other investigations on N1928J (1) 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. - [NTSB ATL04LA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA001), Oct 1, 2003: Johnson Walter A Hornet (N1928J), Saint Marys, GA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to improper maintenance and the pilot's failure to maintian airspeed during the attempted forced landing that resulted in a stall. 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.