Amateur-built IV-1200 accident near Saluda, Virginia, March 14, 1996
On March 14, 1996 at about 9:15 pm local time, a amateur-built IV-1200, registered N32495, was substantially damaged in an accident near Saluda, Virginia (Hummel Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a partial loss of engine power due to spark plug failure, and the pilot's evasive maneuver to avoid lights at the end of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 1996 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Saluda, Virginia · Hummel Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built IV-1200
- Registration
- N32495 · no longer on the register · serial LCU 128
- 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 there was a partial loss of engine power shortly after the airplane lifted off. The airplane would not climb, so he elected to land on the remaining runway. In his attempt to avoid lights at the end of the runway, the pilot stalled the airplane approximately ten feet above the surface. The airplane impacted the runway in a steep nose down attitude, then '...rolled over onto it's back.' Postaccident investigation revealed that the #1 spark plug failed an electrical function test. The pilot stated that the spark plug operated normally under low load conditions, but '...[stopped] under full load.'
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
- Flight time: 195 hours in all; 104 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 138 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 123 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 19, 1995; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax LC-582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W75 at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,200 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:47 pm from PHF, 30 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.