Amateur-built HARMON ROCKET accident near Winston Salem, North Carolina, May 21, 2014
On May 21, 2014 at about 4:25 pm local time, a 1996 amateur-built HARMON ROCKET, registered N85TP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Winston Salem, North Carolina (Smith Reynolds Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in a gusty crosswind which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2014 · about 4:25 pm local time
- Place
- Winston Salem, North Carolina · Smith Reynolds Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built HARMON ROCKET, built 1996
- Registration
- N85TP · registry record · serial 2828
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot's written statement, while on approach for a straight in landing to runway 33 the tower reported "winds at 250 at 13 or 14 with gusts." The pilot elected to abandon the approach to runway 33 and requested a landing on runway 22. The pilot entered a left downwind for runway 22. On final approach the pilot stated he saw a quartering right crosswind at 18 to 19 knots on his onboard system. Upon touchdown the aircraft "began a weathervane" and the pilot elected to go around. After circling the airport the pilot attempted another approach to runway 22. On this approach the pilot used partial flaps and lined up on the left side of the runway. The pilot stated that upon touchdown the aircraft required almost full left rudder to maintain directional control. The pilot stated that he believed he "got an additional right wind gust." At that time the aircraft swerved sharply to the right where it exited the paved surface and rolled onto the grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount and left wing. The calculated cross wind component at the time of the accident, using the AWOS reported winds, was 13 knots. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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 landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,540 hours in all; 444 in this make and model; 75.4 in the last 90 days; 27.5 in the last 30 days; 6,100 as pilot in command; 2,880 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 27, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 942 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 30, 2013; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540B4B5 (piston); 942 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SSI Saint Simons GA at 2:18 pm
- Destination: INT Winston Salem NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22, 3,938 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from INT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N85TP 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.