Amateur-built Preceptor-Ultra accident near Dublin, Virginia, September 29, 2001
On September 29, 2001 at about 8:50 pm local time, a amateur-built Preceptor-Ultra, registered N66VC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dublin, Virginia. 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 sufficient altitude/clearance, which resulted in the airplane's collision with terrain. A factor was the downdraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 2001 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Dublin, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Preceptor-Ultra
- Registration
- N66VC · no longer on the register · serial 0155
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot approached a mountain ridge at a 45-degree angle, "at the same altitude as the ridge." As he flew closer to the ridge, the airplane experienced a "modest downdraft," and the pilot added power to maintain his altitude. When the pilot noticed that he would not be able to climb over the ridge, he turned the airplane back toward the valley to regain altitude. During the turn, the airplane experienced a "substantial downdraft combined with windshear." The pilot added full power; however, the airplane's altitude continued to decrease at about 2,500 feet per minute, and the airplane impacted trees. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. The winds reported at an airport 5 miles away were from 330 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 15 knots.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 697 hours in all; 153 in this make and model; 4 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 7, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 153 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 2001; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 2180 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PSK Dublin VA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: PSK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 8:41 pm from PSK, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.