Amateur-built A75 accident near Glade Spring, Virginia, November 11, 2002
On November 11, 2002 at about 7:40 pm local time, a amateur-built A75, registered N62897, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glade Spring, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper in-flight decision to fly at an altitude that did not allow for successful completion of a forced landing, after the engine lost power for undetermined reason(s). A factor was the unsuitable terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 2002 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Glade Spring, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built A75
- Registration
- N62897 · no longer on the register · serial 75-6960
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Boeing A75 was part of a three ship formation that participated in a flyover of a parade. Upon completion of the flyover, they headed towards their departure airport. En route, the accident airplane departed the formation, and engaged in low level flying. The pilot report that while maneuvering at a low altitude, the engine lost power, and he performed a forced landing, during which the airplane struck trees, and came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that after the power loss, he added carburetor heat, changed throttle position, verified the mixture was rich and tried different magneto switch positions to restore power, but nothing restored power. The FAA examined the airplane and found fuel in the right wing tank. The cause of the power loss was not determined.
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: 2,000 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 13, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,396 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2002; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,960 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming R-680-17 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VJI Abingdon VA at 6:45 pm
- Destination: VJI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from VJI, 15 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.