NYC97LA105

NTSB accident investigation · North American Navion · Fredericksburg, VA · June 5, 1997

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
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.

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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.

In flight collision with objectGo-around (vfr)
Go-around - delayedPilot in commandCause
Object - tree(s)

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.