Amateur-built Special S1S accident near New Bern, North Carolina, July 23, 2004
On July 23, 2004 at about 7:37 pm local time, a amateur-built Special S1S, registered N60D, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Bern, North Carolina (Craven County Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for winds and his failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing, which resulted in an on-ground collision with an airport sign. A factor was the crosswind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 2004 · about 7:37 pm local time
- Place
- New Bern, North Carolina · Craven County Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Special S1S
- Registration
- N60D · no longer on the register · serial 7-0061
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, during landing roll on runway 22, a wind gust picked up the left wings and pushed the airplane to the right of the runway. He stated he added power to go around, and the airplane's right wing collided with an airport runway/taxiway sign. Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the right side of the fuselage, the right main landing gear, the propeller, and the lower right wing. The weather observation station for the airport reported at 1542 winds were from 180 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 5 statute miles with haze, with lightning distant west and northwest.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 931 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: February 8, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 713 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 23, 2004; 689 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KEWN New Bern NC at 7:25 pm
- Destination: KEWN New Bern NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 6,004 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 7:42 pm from KEWN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.