Amateur-built Titan accident near Surry, Virginia, July 24, 2007
On July 24, 2007, a amateur-built Titan, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Surry, Virginia (Beaver Dam Airpark 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 aircraft control for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent experience.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2007
- Place
- Surry, Virginia · Beaver Dam Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Titan
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial T96503SOHK0202
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot purchased the amateur-built airplane 2 days prior to the accident, and he had not flown it previously. He indicated to the airport manager that he planned to taxi the airplane on the grass runway. The airplane taxied back and forth on the runway several times. At an undetermined time, the airplane became airborne and subsequently impacted trees and terrain about 1/2 mile southwest from the airport. The airplane stuck trees, prior to impacting the ground at an estimated angle of about 70 degrees. Examination of the airplane, which included disassembly of the engine, did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. The pilot's private pilot certificate was issued in October 1979, and he had not flown regularly in over 20 years. A friend of the pilot reported that he spoke with the pilot on the morning of the accident, and the pilot was "excited" that he purchased the airplane, and was looking forward to receiving flight instruction in it. Toxicological testing conducted on the pilot revealed the presence of Venlafaxine, a prescription antidepressant, also used for anxiety and panic disorders, present in his blood, urine, liver and gastric system. The level of Venlafaxine in the pilot's blood was nearly 10 times higher than expected with regular use of a high typical dose of the medication. The pilot's most recent airman medical certificate was issued about 23 years prior 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 0 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VA33 Surry VA
- Destination: VA33 Surry VA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.