# NTSB NYC99LA221: Valenza Volksplane VP-II, N8535B, Westmore, VT, September 6, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 6, 1999, 08:00 local (12:00 UTC) - Place: Westmore, VT - Location: 44.7714° N, 72.0548° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Westmore, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7714&lon=-72.0548&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47318 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA221 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47318/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA221 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from the trees. A related factor was the pilot's lack of familiarity with the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - tree(s) - altitude/clearance - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot had recently bought the homebuilt airplane, which hadn't been flown in the previous 3 years, and he reassembled it at his airstrip. He conducted an engine ground test, and subsequently decided to change the original propeller to one with a smaller diameter in order to prevent ground strike damage. The pilot then decided to fly the airplane to another airport, where additional repairs could be made. It was his first flight in the accident airplane, and according to a witness, the takeoff was conducted under 'fairly calm' wind conditions. The airplane began its takeoff roll about 250 feet from the approach end of the grass airstrip, on a downwards slope. It lifted off after rolling about 1,000 feet, but did not gain enough altitude to avoid 50-foot trees at the far end. It turned toward the left, but then descended into two pine trees which were in a gully, and below the elevation of the airstrip. The airplane sheared off the treetops, then rolled inverted, and struck the ground. The engine was heard operating strongly throughout the takeoff attempt, and the wooden propeller blades were shattered. The pilot had about 300 hours of flight time. ## Factual narrative On September 6, 1999, about 0800 Eastern Daylight Time, a homebuilt Volksplane VP-II, N8535B, was destroyed during takeoff from a private airstrip near Westmore, Vermont. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed for the ferry flight to Newport State Airport (EFK), Newport, Vermont. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the pilot had recently bought the disassembled airplane, which hadn't been flown in the previous 3 years, and reassembled it at his airstrip. He conducted an engine ground test, and subsequently decided to change the original propeller to one with a smaller diameter in order to prevent ground strike damage. The pilot then decided to fly the airplane to Newport State, where additional repairs could be made. It was his first flight in the accident airplane. A witness stated that the takeoff was conducted under "fairly calm" wind conditions. The airplane began its takeoff roll about 250 feet from the approach end of the grass airstrip. It lifted off after rolling about 1,000 feet, but did not gain enough altitude to negotiate 50-foot trees at the far end of the airstrip. The airplane turned toward the left, toward a low point in the tree line, but then hit two pine trees approximately 8 feet below their tops. It sheared off the treetops, then rolled inverted, and struck the ground. The witness heard the engine operating strongly throughout the takeoff attempt. On-scene investigation revealed that the takeoff was made from a downwards slope, and that the trees which were hit, were in a gully, and below the airstrip's elevation. Airplane control continuity was confirmed, although the cables were separated, and the cable pulleys were loose. All control surfaces were accounted for at the accident site, and the wooden propeller blades were shattered. A 6-inch by 1-inch by 3-foot board was found bolted to, and centered on the underside of the empennage. It was beneath and parallel to the stabilator. Bailing wire held the pressure carburetor and manifold to the engine mount, and there were no nuts on either the left hand or right hand upper forward wing strut turnover bar. One aileron cable under the fuselage did not have a nut on an attachment bolt, another cable had a nut that was finger tight with no cotter key, neither aileron cable turnbuckle under the fuselage was safety-wired, and the forward pulley for the stabilator was missing. An autopsy and toxicological testing were performed on the pilot's remains by the Vermont Department of Health, Burlington, Vermont. The family of the deceased pilot would not provide pilot or maintenance logbooks. On the pilot's latest third class medical certificate application, dated August 22, 1997, he stated that he had 300 hours of flight time. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8535B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8535B-2012-08-06), registration cancelled 2012-08-06, S/N V2-12-79-SV, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Valenza VOLKSPLANE VP-II (VOLKSPLANE) - Registry model: [Valenza Samuel VP-II](https://openairdocs.org/model/valenza-samuel-vp-ii) (registry code 0563683) (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: V2-12-79-SV - Engines: Volkswagen VW 1600 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rolland L Sturtevant - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, September 6, 1999, 0 hours before - Departed: NONE, VT - Destination: EFK, NEWPORT, VT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 300 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BTV, 50 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 19990906046129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990906046129A), Sep 6, 1999: Westmore, VT, No damage. (-23) On September 6, 1999, about 0800 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt volksplane, VP-11, N8535B was destroyed during takeoff from a private airstrip near… 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.