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May 26, 1985 · Rockwell 112B · N1417J

Woodbridge, VA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 26, 1985
Injury Outcomes
5 injuries (5 fatalities)
Location
Woodbridge, VA
Aircraft
Rockwell 112B
Tail Number
N1417J
Operator
Herbert E Ewing
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO85FA048

ON MAY 26,1985,AT APPROXIMATELY 1240 HRS EDT,A ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL COMMANDER 1120,N1417J,COLLIDED WITH TREES AFT TKOF FM WOODBRIDGE ARPT IN WOODBRIDGE,VA. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED DRNG THE POST IMPACT FIRE AND THE PUT PLT AND 4 PAX ALL SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES. WITNESSES CONCUR THAT THE PLANE APPEARED TO BRUSH THE TOP BRANCHES OF A TREE LOCATED ABT 400FT OFF AND TO THE LEFT OF THE DEPARTURE END OF RWY 01 DRNG INITIAL CLIMBOUT. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A 50 FOOT CLIMB AFT WHICH THE ACFT BEGAN A SLIPPING LEFT TURN WITH AN INCREASING BANK ANGLE UNTIL IT DESCENDED INTO TREES. THE CALCULATED GROSS WT OF THE ACFT AT THE TIME OF TKOF WAS ABT 3021 POUNDS,THE CERTIFICATED MAX GROSS WT OF THE ACFT IS 2800 POUNDS. THE LENGTH OF RWY 01 AT WOODBRIDGE ARPT IS 2250FT AND THE RECORDED TEMPERATURE AT TIME OF TKOF WAS 83 DEGREES.

Full Narrative

ON MAY 26,1985,AT APPROXIMATELY 1240 HRS EDT,A ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL COMMANDER 1120,N1417J,COLLIDED WITH TREES AFT TKOF FM WOODBRIDGE ARPT IN WOODBRIDGE,VA. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED DRNG THE POST IMPACT FIRE AND THE PUT PLT AND 4 PAX ALL SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES. WITNESSES CONCUR THAT THE PLANE APPEARED TO BRUSH THE TOP BRANCHES OF A TREE LOCATED ABT 400FT OFF AND TO THE LEFT OF THE DEPARTURE END OF RWY 01 DRNG INITIAL CLIMBOUT. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A 50 FOOT CLIMB AFT WHICH THE ACFT BEGAN A SLIPPING LEFT TURN WITH AN INCREASING BANK ANGLE UNTIL IT DESCENDED INTO TREES. THE CALCULATED GROSS WT OF THE ACFT AT THE TIME OF TKOF WAS ABT 3021 POUNDS,THE CERTIFICATED MAX GROSS WT OF THE ACFT IS 2800 POUNDS. THE LENGTH OF RWY 01 AT WOODBRIDGE ARPT IS 2250FT AND THE RECORDED TEMPERATURE AT TIME OF TKOF WAS 83 DEGREES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:40 EDT
Nearest AirportWoodbridge (1nm N)
Runway1
Runway Length2250 ft
Runway Width45 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftRockwell 112B
Tail NumberN1417J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorHerbert E Ewing
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-360-C1D6 · Reciprocating · 200
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary5 injuries (5 fatalities)
Fatal5
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total5
Crew 1Age 59 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 9 kt
Visibility12 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point57
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time16:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data