Amateur-built HM293 accident near Radford, Virginia, May 30, 1982
On May 30, 1982 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built HM293, registered N2931, was substantially damaged in an accident near Radford, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1982 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Radford, Virginia
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built HM293
- Registration
- N2931 · no longer on the register · serial F-190
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING FLIGHT, THE PILOT BEGAN FLYING OVER A RIVER IN HIS HOMEBUILT HM293 "FLEA." HE REPORTED THAT HE HAD STARTED A RIGHT TURN AND WAS LOOKING FOR A BRIDGE WHEN THE LEFT WING TIP STRUCK WIRES. THE WIRES WERE PART OF A RAILWAY SIGNAL LINE THAT CROSSED THE RIVER IN THAT LOCATION. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO THE RIVER AND THE PILOT SWAN TO SHORE WITH ONLY MINOR INJURIES. HE REPORTED THAT THE TOP WING RESTRICTED HIS VISIBILITY WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A TURN.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: instrument airplane
- Flight time: 1,868 hours in all; 472 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 472 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Mcculloch O-100-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Radford VA at 11:15 am
- Destination: Radford VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.