Amateur-built VP-1 accident near Calhoun, Georgia, March 25, 2011
On March 25, 2011 at about 9:38 pm local time, a amateur-built VP-1, registered N770VP, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Calhoun, Georgia. 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
A partial loss of engine power during initial climb due to an over-lean carburetor setting. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper adjustment of the engine's carburetor during construction.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 25, 2011 · about 9:38 pm local time
- Place
- Calhoun, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VP-1
- Registration
- N770VP · registry record · serial 001
- 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 this was the airplane's first flight after construction. He said that he conducted a preflight inspection and engine run up, and no anomalies were noted. The cylinder head temperature was in the yellow prior to initiating the takeoff roll. At 200 feet above ground level on the initial climb, the engine experienced a partial loss of engine power, and the pilot noted that the cylinder head temperature was in the red arc. He turned the airplane to the left, looked for a forced landing area, pulled the power back and performed a forced landing to an open field. The airplane landed hard and sustained substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot stated that he followed the carburetor adjustment procedure for the main carburetor jet adjustment in accordance with the airplane's adjustment procedure manual. He said that during the adjustment he set the main jet adjustment to the lean point of the setting. After running up the engine, he re-adjusted it to a leaner point from the initial adjustment. Postaccident examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories revealed no anomalies other than the carburetor adjustment.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Owner/builder
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 1,450 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 29, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 0 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 29, 2010; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 940 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 2180CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CZL Calhoun GA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: CZL Calhoun GA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from RMG, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.