- Date
- May 17, 1994, 15:49 local (20:49 UTC)
- Place
- Lake Wales, FL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8490Aerosport Scamp WT-B1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 18, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940517011219A
- Case key
- 37547
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) while maneuvering resulting in an in-flight loss of control (inadvertent 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 pilot said the engine lost power then restarted, but at partial power, after a crosswind takeoff. While maneuvering for a forced landing the airplane stalled and collided with terrain. A witness stated he did not hear any change in engine power before the airplane collided with the terrain. Examination of the airplane by the FAA revealed no indication of preimpact damage to the aircraft engine.
Factual narrative
On May 17, 1994, about 1549 eastern standard time, a Aerosport Inc., Scamp WT-B1, N8490, registered to Gary I. Barnett, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed while maneuvering in the vicinity of Lake Wales, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed and the commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from River Ranch Resort about 5 minutes before the accident.
Mr. Robert J. Warren, stated he purchased the airplane in February 1993, and had not registered it with the FAA. He sold the airplane to the injured pilot on the day of the accident. The airplane had been flown once since he purchased it from the registered owner currently on file with the FAA. He and the new owner added fuel to the airplane, and towed it to runway 34. The new owner wanted to do some high speed taxis on the runway. He started the airplane and took off. Mr. Warren stated he observed the airplane make a right turn out and climb to about 150 feet agl, the airplane was observed to reverse course and fly back towards the airport. Mr. Warren stated he was walking back to his golf cart when he heard a thud. He looked for the airplane and didn't see it and went over to the security gate and informed them of a possible airplane crash. They drove over to the approach end of runway 16 and saw the airplane and the pilot standing beside it. Upon their arrival the injured pilot asked them if he had taken off and if he had landed the airplane. He then asked them if he had stalled the airplane. Emergency personnel arrived and the injured pilot was transported to the hospital.
The pilot stated in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report that after making a crosswind turn the engine quit, and then came back alive, but at partial power. He then stalled the airplane while maneuvering in the forced landing.
Examination of the airplane wreckage by the FAA revealed no evidence of precrash mechanical failure of the engine assembly.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8490
- Reported as
- Aerosport Scamp WT-B1 (SCAMP WT-)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1
- Engine
- Volkswagen 1834 CC TYPE1, 60 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Crowley, James H.
- Registered owner
- Barnet, Gary I.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
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
- 60
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 1,053 total · 843 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LAL, 12 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.