Amateur-built Hummel Ultra Cruiser accident near Newry, Pennsylvania, September 1, 2007
On September 1, 2007 at about 9:54 pm local time, a amateur-built Hummel Ultra Cruiser, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newry, Pennsylvania (Blue Knob Valley Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees while maneuvering.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2007 · about 9:54 pm local time
- Place
- Newry, Pennsylvania · Blue Knob Valley Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Hummel Ultra Cruiser
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial UNKNOWN
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The un-registered amateur built Hummel Aviation Ultra Cruiser departed the airport on the second flight of the day. After maneuvering in the vicinity of the airport, the airplane flew at a low altitude, and descended towards the approach end of the runway opposite of its initial departure. The airplane subsequently struck trees near the end of the runway. Examination of a broken tree branch, identified as the initial impact point, and the wing of the airplane revealed that the airplane impacted the tree in wings level attitude. No evidence of any pre-impact failures or malfunctions of the airframe or engine were noted. The pilot held a student pilot certificate, which was issued more than 9 years prior to the date of the accident flight. No maintenance records were available; however, according to witnesses, the accident flight was the second flight since the pilot had completed construction of the airplane.
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: student
- Flight time: 8 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hummel Engines 1/2 VW (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7G4 Newry PA
- Destination: 7G4
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from AOO, 9 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.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.