Barness PULSAR I N97JW

Summary

On 3 December 2003 at about 22:15 local time, a Barness PULSAR I registered N97JW was involved in an accident near Bardstown, Kentucky, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 December 2003 at 22:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Bardstown, Kentucky, United States

Nearest airport

Samuels Airport (BRY)

Coordinates

37.8142, -85.4994

Aircraft

Barness PULSAR I

Registration

N97JW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bardstown → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC04LA043

1 person died.

The pilot's loss of aircraft control, resulting in a subsequent impact with terrain. A factor related to the accident was the pilot's unfamiliarity with the airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had purchased the homebuilt airplane the day of the accident, and conducted a 1-hour "familiarization" flight with the pervious owner. After the "familiarization" flight, the previous owner departed the airport by car, and the pilot informed the airport manager that he was going to try and fly the airplane again. The pilot then contacted his wife by cell phone, and requested her to proceed to the airport to pick him up. Upon the arrival of the pilot's wife, she observed the airplane on fire in the grass area left of runway 02. There were no known witnesses to the accident. Examination of the airframe did not reveal any abnormalities. Examination of the engine revealed extensive post-crash fire damage, and further examination of it could not be performed due to it being seized.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.