Virginia Aviation Wright Model B accident near Midland, Virginia, May 20, 2003
On May 20, 2003, a Virginia Aviation Wright Model B, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N1911K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Midland, Virginia (Horse Feathers Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 2003
- Place
- Midland, Virginia · Horse Feathers Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Virginia Aviation Wright Model B, amateur-built
- Registration
- N1911K · registry record · serial VA3
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental airplane was undergoing a series of taxi tests on a 200-foot-wide turf runway. While taxiing, the airplane unexpectedly became airborne. The pilot was not sure if he could land the airplane in the space remaining, and elected to maneuver for a landing attempt. The airplane entered a series of slide slips which the pilot was able to correct from; however, on final approach, the airplane entered a slide slip to the left. The pilot was unable to recover and the airplane impacted trees. The airplane had not been flown previous to the accident.
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: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 35,400 hours in all; 20 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 24,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 25, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 0 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 4, 2002; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright Vert Four (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 53VA Midland VA at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 2,600 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 10:40 pm from CJR, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.