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July 15, 1993 · Rolando RANS S-10 · N217ER

Numidia, PA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 15, 1993
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Numidia, PA
Aircraft
Rolando RANS S-10
Tail Number
N217ER
Operator
Jeffrey Sy Compton
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO93LA123

WITNESSES STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AT ABOUT 200 TO 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE AIRPLANE BANKED LEFT ABOUT 60 DEGREES. THEY STATED THAT DURING THE LEFT TURN, THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE WENT DOWN AND THE AIRPLANE SPUN INTO THE GROUND. THE WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE WAS RUNNING THROUGHOUT THE MANEUVER. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY AIRFRAME OR ENGINE ANOMALIES. THE PILOT PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE FOUR DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK INDICATED HE HAD ABOUT 20 HOURS OF TOTAL FLIGHT TIME IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE EXCESSIVE MANEUVER ATTEMPTED BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT AND AN INADVERTENT SPIN AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT FOR RECOVERY.

Full Narrative

On Thursday, July 15, 1993, a home built RANS S10, N217ER, owned, operated, and piloted by Jeffrey S. Compton of Catawissa, Pennsylvania, collided with terrain during an excessive maneuver over a private air field in Numidia, Pennsylvania. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A witness located in his front yard near the airport stated, "Aircraft was taking off heading west, banking slightly southwest at approximately 150 ft. in altitude. The nose of [the] aircraft pitched down causing plane to roll counter clockwise one and a half times before striking ground in [a] field. The engine of plane never cut off during dive." The witness stated that he was the first to arrive at the accident scene and [smelled] a strong odor of fuel. He stated that he "...removed [the] cockpit top, [and] shut off ignition and fuel pumps." Another witness located at the Numidia airport stated, "The plane took off and leveled at approx 300' to 400' just as it was crossing Rte 42 & then pilot appeared to bank left, then plane was on edge & started spinning left towards ground approx 3 spins till it was out of vision." Another witness located at the Numidia airport stated, "Jeff climbed out to an altitude of approximately 400', then he proceeded to bank 60 degrees to the left, as he was banking he went into a vicious three turn spin. His engine was running." The airframe and engine were examined at the accident site on July 15 and 16, 1993. The examination did not reveal any airframe or engine anomalies. Control continuity of the surface positions was verified. According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the pilot bought the airplane on Sunday, July 11, 1993, four days prior to the accident. The pilot's log book indicated he had a total of 20 hours flying time in the accident airplane. The autopsy was performed by Dr. Kenny at the Bloomsburg Hospital located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, on July 16, 1993. The autopsy revealed no evidence of physical incapacitation that would have been causal to the accident. The toxicological tests were performed by Dr. Dennis V. Canfield at the Civil Aeromedical Institute located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Negative results were reported for all screened drugs and volatiles. The airplane wreckage was released to George Beaver, Airport Manager, Numidia, Pennsylvania, on July 16, 1993.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:00 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRolando RANS S-10
Tail NumberN217ER
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorJeffrey Sy Compton
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 582 · Reciprocating · 65
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 39 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind330° @ 11 kt
Visibility25 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point48
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time22:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data