Johnson Walter A HORNET N1928J

Summary

On 1 October 2003 at about 22:03 local time, a Johnson Walter A HORNET registered N1928J, operated by Glen M. Readdick, was involved in an accident near Saint Marys, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 October 2003 at 22:03

Classification

Accident

Location

Saint Marys, Georgia, United States

Coordinates

30.7578, -81.5622

Aircraft

Johnson Walter A HORNET

Registration

N1928J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Glen M. Readdick

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kingsland → Kingsland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL04LA001

1 person died.

The loss of engine power due to improper maintenance and the pilot's failure to maintian airspeed during the attempted forced landing that resulted in a stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to witnesses in the area, the airplane had been circling when they heard the engine sputter. The airplane descended nose down behind a stand of trees and they heard a "boom". Several witnesses in the area telephoned the 911-operator and reported the accident. Examination of the wreckage on-scene found the airplane in a nose down attitude. Examination of the engine found one of the two sparkplugs out of its cylinder hanging by the sparkplug wire. During a telephone interview with the brother of the pilot he stated that about 15 to 20 hours prior to the accident they had done some maintenance on the engine including changing the spark plugs. He further stated that he believes that the spark plugs were not tightened adequately which allowed one to "blow out causing the loss of engine power".

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.