Amateur-built SMITH INNOVATION accident near Hampton, Iowa, September 22, 1996
On September 22, 1996 at about 6:45 pm local time, a amateur-built SMITH INNOVATION, registered N2982, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hampton, Iowa (Hampton Municipal 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 pilot's failure to refuel the airplane and his improper decision to perform a low altitude manuever with a low fuel supply.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 22, 1996 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hampton, Iowa · Hampton Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SMITH INNOVATION SMITH INNO
- Registration
- N2982 · no longer on the register · serial 5721129
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While performing a low pass to cut a ribbon for an airport grand opening ceremony, the pilot, after successfully cutting the ribbon, pulled up into a climb and turned crosswind. He experienced a total loss of power and landed in a soybean field. A postcrash inspection revealed low fuel quantity.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 225 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 8, 1995; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,068 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIP0-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MCW Mason City IA at 6:35 pm
- Destination: HPT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,005 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from MCW, 28 miles away
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.