ATL95LA081

Factual narrative

On April 11, 1995, at 1923 eastern daylight time, an Eccker Rans S-10, N67CD, homebuilt airplane, collided with the ground during landing at the Wilson Industrial Air Center, in Wilson, North Carolina. The flight was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. A flight plan was not filed for the personal flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the airline transport pilot was seriously injured. The local flight departed Wilson, North Carolina, at 1900 hours. The aircraft owner stated that the pilot had stopped at his hangar, which he was cleaning at the time, and requested to fly his airplane, which he had done on previous occasions. The owner watched the pilot as he taxied to runway 3. He then observed the pilot conducting touch and go landings to runway 3. Several minutes after the initial takeoff, the owner noticed that the pilot was on left base for what appeared to be runway 15. The airplane then impacted the ground, according to the owner. The inspector from the Flight Standards District Office at Winston-Salem, North Carolina, who examined the wreckage, indicated that the landing gear had been collapsed, and was broken at the struts, and that the cabin area had also collapsed. The engine was curled underneath the fuselage, damaging the engine mounts and the firewall. The accident site examination disclosed that debris from the left wing tip was on the ground on the left side of the runway. According to the inspector, when he interviewed the hospitalized pilot, the pilot reported that he did not remember the circumstances, other than the engine would not respond to applied power. The inspector examined the airplane and engine. He discovered that there was continuity of the flight controls and the engine. All of the engine cylinders were intact; the spark plugs were described as serviceable. The carburetor was damaged from impact. The carburetor linkages were connected. The engine examination disclosed that there was not a carburetor heat system installed on this aircraft. There was no binding of the engine when rotated. The flight controls moved without binding and the cables were connected. A review of the weather information disclosed that conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice. The owner of the airplane was requested to complete the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2. According to the owner, the form was given to the pilot to complete his portion. Additionally, the pilot was given and mailed two NTSB 6120.1/2 by the FAA inspector. None of the three forms was received. ACCORDING TO THE AIRCRAFT OWNER, THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS WHEN HE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ON FINAL APPROACH. WHILE MANEUVERING THE AIRPLANE FOR THE EMERGENCY LANDING TO THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND IT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR A COMPONENT FAILURE. A REVIEW OF WEATHER DATA REVEALED THAT WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE FAVORABLE FOR THE FORMATION OF CARBURETOR ICING. THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT HAVE A CARBURETOR HEAT SYSTEM INSTALLED. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12