Amateur-built VP 1 accident near Cincinnati, Ohio, October 13, 2003
On October 13, 2003 at about 8:35 pm local time, a amateur-built VP 1, registered N4087F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cincinnati, Ohio (Cincinnati Municipal-Lunken airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 13, 2003 · about 8:35 pm local time
- Place
- Cincinnati, Ohio · Cincinnati Municipal-Lunken · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VP 1
- Registration
- N4087F · no longer on the register · serial VI491DD
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident flight was the experimental airplane's first flight of a 40-hour test period. The pilot requested a "possible takeoff or at least a long run," from air traffic controllers at the airport, and then departed from the runway after a ground roll of about 20 seconds, in a shallow climb. The airplane leveled off after reaching an altitude of about 50 feet, and then a second climb was initiated, during which the airplane settled back down to the runway. This sequence of climb attempts repeated about 12 times until the airplane reached the end of the runway. The pilot then reduced the power and performed a forced landing to a field on the right side of the runway. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane. He stated that the airplane was equipped with a 1200cc Volkswagen engine, resulting in the airplane being underpowered, and unable to climb out of ground effect. The pilot further stated that most other aircraft of this model use a 1600cc Volkswagen engine.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,654 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: January 9, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 14, 2003
- Maximum gross weight: 750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1200CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LUK Cincinnati OH at 8:35 pm
- Destination: LUK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21L, 6,101 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 8:44 pm from LUK
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.