Fleet 16B accident near Spencer, West Virginia, July 17, 1987
On July 17, 1987, a Fleet 16B, registered N47058, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spencer, West Virginia (Slate Run airport). 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
- July 17, 1987
- Place
- Spencer, West Virginia · Slate Run · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fleet 16B
- Registration
- N47058 · no longer on the register · serial 592
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 16, THE ENGINE BEGAN MISFIRING. THE PILOT TURNED BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT TO MAKE A LANDING. HE CIRCLED THE AIRPORT AND THEN ATTEMPED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 34. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS OVER THE APPROACH END OFRUNWAY 34, TURNING LEFT FROM BASE TO FINAL AND WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE RUNWAY, IN A LEFT BANK ATTITUDE, ABOUT 40 FEET PAST THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD AND SKIDDED TO A STOP ABOUT 50 FEET OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DISCLOSED A RICH FUEL MIXTURE CONDITION IN THE CYLINDERS CONNECTED TO THE PRIMERLINES. THE PRIMER CONTROL KNOB WAS FOUND IN THE UNLOCKED POSITION.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,399 hours in all; 6 in the last 90 days; 3,262 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 27, 1986; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kinner R55 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 1,720 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.