- Date
- November 13, 1993, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place
- Altoona, FL
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N602Vacey MK-1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 13, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931113042719A
- Case key
- 37457
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 pilot-in-command's failure to maintain airspeed (VS) on initial takeoff climb while maneuvering to avoid power lines, resulting in an in-flight loss of control (stall) and subsequent in-flight collision with terrain.
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
The private pilot made a takeoff to the east uphill into the wind. Upon reaching about 10 to 15 feet AGL, the pilot observed power lines to his front and initiated a left turn. The pilot stated the airspeed decreased, the airplane stalled, the nose pitched down, and the airplane collided with the ground.
Factual narrative
On November 13, 1993, at about 1315 eastern standard time, a Vacey MK-1, N602, experimental homebuilt airplane, registered to Charles A. Vacey Sr., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed while maneuvering on initial takeoff climb. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot sustained a minor injury, and the passenger sustained a serious injury. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from a grass field about 1 minute before the accident.
The pilot stated in an interview with the NTSB investigator- in-charge that he had made a forced landing into the grass field earlier in the day due to high water temperature. Examination of the airplane on the ground revealed a water hose had come off in flight. The hose was repaired and the pilot made a takeoff to the east uphill into the wind. The airplane became airborne reaching about 10 to 15 feet agl, when the pilot observed power lines to his front. The pilot further stated, "I made a left turn, the airspeed decreased, the airplane stalled, the nose pitched down, and the airplane collided with the ground."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N602
- Reported as
- Vacey MK-1
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 455
- Airframe hours
- 45
- Engine
- Subaru EA82, 94 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Vacey, Charles A. Sr.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Destination
- X-17 · Plant City, FL
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
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 675 total · 45 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 6,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SFB, 20 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.