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NTSB Report
July 22, 1987 · Cessna 421 · N9764J
Gordonsville, VA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 22, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Gordonsville, VA
Aircraft
Cessna 421
Tail Number
N9764J
Operator
Donald a Henke
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO87LA049
THE PLT BEGAN TAKING OFF FROM A DOWNWARD SLOPING, 2300 FT RWY IN LIGHT WINDS. THE RPRTD TEMP WAS 92 DEG; THE DENSITY ALT WAS ABOUT 2500 FT. THE PLT RPRTD THE ACFT ACCELERATED NORMALLY TO V1 SPEED; HOWEVER, IT HIT THE TOPS OF TREES ABOUT 350 TO 500 FT BEYOND THE RWY, THEN STRUCK THE GROUND AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT ANOTHER 1000 FT. PERFORMANCE CHARTS SHOWED THE ACFT WOULD HAVE NEEDED A TAKEOFF DISTANCE OF 2200 FT TO CLEAR A 50 FT OBSTACLE IN CALM WIND. THE PLT RPRTD THE WIND WAS FROM 010 DEG AT 3 TO 5 KTS. A WITNESS RPRTD A 3 TO 5 KT TAILWIND. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND.
Full Narrative
THE PLT BEGAN TAKING OFF FROM A DOWNWARD SLOPING, 2300 FT RWY IN LIGHT WINDS. THE RPRTD TEMP WAS 92 DEG; THE DENSITY ALT WAS ABOUT 2500 FT. THE PLT RPRTD THE ACFT ACCELERATED NORMALLY TO V1 SPEED; HOWEVER, IT HIT THE TOPS OF TREES ABOUT 350 TO 500 FT BEYOND THE RWY, THEN STRUCK THE GROUND AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT ANOTHER 1000 FT. PERFORMANCE CHARTS SHOWED THE ACFT WOULD HAVE NEEDED A TAKEOFF DISTANCE OF 2200 FT TO CLEAR A 50 FT OBSTACLE IN CALM WIND. THE PLT RPRTD THE WIND WAS FROM 010 DEG AT 3 TO 5 KTS. A WITNESS RPRTD A 3 TO 5 KT TAILWIND. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:30 EDT
Nearest AirportGordonsville Muni (1nm ENE)
Runway4
Runway Length2300 ft
Runway Width40 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftCessna 421
Tail NumberN9764J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorDonald a Henke
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · GTSIO-520-D · Reciprocating · 375
Seats6
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 42 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind5 kt
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT