Burgess SKYHOPPER N4186C

Summary

On 6 September 1997 at about 19:00 local time, a Burgess SKYHOPPER registered N4186C was involved in an accident near Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 September 1997 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

McDaniels (NONE)

Coordinates

35.8206, -90.6809

Aircraft

Burgess SKYHOPPER

Registration

N4186C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW97LA341

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to obtain/maintain the aircraft's airspeed. Factors were the high density altitude and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The aircraft had reached an altitude of approximately 15 feet AGL during the takeoff initial climb when it would no longer sustain flight. The airplane descended below powerlines and the pilot landed the airplane in a field to the right of the runway extended centerline, in order to avoid a residence located near the departure end of the runway. During the landing the aircraft contacted high weeds, the nose struck the ground, and the aircraft flipped over coming to rest inverted. The pilot reported that there were no discrepancies with the airplane or the engine. Witnesses observed the airplane 'shake' and 'wobbling' descending to the ground. The runway at the unimproved and abandoned airport had not been mowed and tall grass prevailed for the entire length of the runway. At a field elevation of 262 feet and a temperature of 88 degree F., density altitude was calculated at 2,000 feet. The pilot upheld that his logbook had been destroyed and that he held a private pilot certificate. Research has not revealed any evidence of the issuance of a private pilot certificate.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.