Amateur-built 2/3 SCALE JENNY accident near Hannacroix, New York, March 18, 2012
On March 18, 2012 at about 9:15 pm local time, a amateur-built 2/3 SCALE JENNY, registered N987KB, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Hannacroix, New York (Wayne Delp airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The non-certificated pilot's improper high-speed taxi test, which resulted in a loss of control and the pilot's subsequent decision to take off to avoid trees. Also causal, was an in-flight magneto failure, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inability to maintain control of the airplane due to his lack of total flight experience and his lack of experience in the airplane make and model.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 2012 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hannacroix, New York · Wayne Delp · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 2/3 SCALE JENNY
- Registration
- N987KB · 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 non-certificated pilot built the airplane, which was certificated about 19 months earlier. According to the pilot, the airplane had not flown, and because he wanted to ensure it was flyable again, he conducted a high-speed taxi test with no intent for flight. During the taxi test, the pilot lost control of the airplane, and by the time he had regained control, the airplane was approaching the end of the runway. To avoid the trees, the pilot decided to take off and complete one circuit to a landing. As the pilot turned the airplane onto final approach, he noted a loss of engine power. The pilot then lost control of the airplane, regained it, and attempted to land in a small field as the airplane continued to lose altitude. The pilot avoided a barn, but while doing so, the airplane hit a pine tree, spun around into the direction from which it came, and dropped nose-first to the ground. Postflight examination of the airplane revealed evidence of low power on the 65-horsepower engine at impact, and the left magneto was inoperative. Federal Aviation Administration records indicated that the pilot had previously held a student pilot certificate, which expired in 2001, and the pilot indicated that he had no flight experience in the accident airplane make and model.
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 control on ground during taxi
- Attempted remediation/recovery during taxi
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during emergency descent
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Magneto/distributor › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Malfunction
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Flight time: 72 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 29, 2011; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor A-65-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 33NY West Coxsackie NY at 9:15 pm
- Destination: 33NY West Coxsackie NY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from ALB, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA12LA233.