- Date
- June 5, 1997, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Fredericksburg, VA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N91711North American Navion
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 3, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970605013449A
- Case key
- 39366
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's delayed go-around which resulted in the inflight collision with trees off the departure end of the runway.
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 reported that the engine was losing power during the final approach so he elected to perform a go-around during which the airplane collided with trees off the departure end of the runway. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunctions. The fuel tank was intact and observed to be about 3/4 full. A report of the wreckage examination by the FAA Inspector stated that 'the engine appears to have been running at time of impact....There was no apparent reason for the engine to quit.' Also the previous refueling facility was tested for contamination with negative results.
Factual narrative
On June 5, 1997, about 1930 eastern daylight time, a North American Navion, N91711, was destroyed when it collided with trees during a go-around at the Dogwood Airpark, Fredericksburg, Virginia. The certificated commercial pilot received minor injuries. There was no flight plan for the personal flight that departed Orange, Virginia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot reported that the engine was losing power during the final approach, and he elected to go-around. The pilot further reported that the engine continued to lose power during the go-around and collided with trees off the departure end of the runway.
Examination of the wreckage and engine by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunctions. A report of the examination from the FAA Inspector stated that "the engine appears to have been running at time of impact." A fuel sample was taken from the previous refueling facility with negative results for contamination. The report also stated that "there was no apparent reason for the engine to quit. No fuel spill at [accident] site. Aircraft has a center fuel tank that was still intact." The fuel tank was observed to be about 3/4 full.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N91711
- Reported as
- North American Navion
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- NA-4-445
- Engine
- Continental E225, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Richard N Snyder
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 30, 1996
- Departed
- W93 · Orange, VA
- Destination
- VA42
- Airport
- VA42 · Dogwood Airpark, runway 27, 2,800 × 50 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
- 71
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 21,000 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 20,000 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 32 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- JYO, 45 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 18, 2000, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 600 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.