Amateur-built 20 accident near Greensboro, North Carolina, October 14, 1987
On October 14, 1987 at about 1:30 pm local time, a amateur-built 20, registered N62V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greensboro, North Carolina. 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
- October 14, 1987 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Greensboro, North Carolina
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 20
- Registration
- N62V · registry record · serial 0001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKE-OFF, AT ABOUT 500 FT AGL, THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AND LAND. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS FOUND TO HAVE THREE FUEL SELECTORS INSTALLED. THE MAIN FUEL SELECTOR, WHICH SUPPLIES FUEL TO THE ENGINE, WAS IN THE 'ON' POSITION. THE TWO FUEL SELECTORS FROM BOTH THE RT AND LEFT FUEL CELLS WERE FOUND IN THE 'OFF' POSITIONS. THESE TWO FUEL SELECTORS MUST BE IN THE 'ON' POSITION TO SUPPLY FUEL TO THE MAIN FUEL SELECTOR. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A HEADER TANK WHICH HAS A CAPACITY OF APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF GALLON. THE ENGINE WAS RECOVERED AND SUCCESSFULLY RUN ON A TEST STAND.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,425 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 79 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, June 12, 1987; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,874 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-PB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Questair, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: GSO Greensboro NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N62V the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.