Amateur-built ACRO SPORT II accident near Hornell, New York, May 21, 1994
On May 21, 1994 at about 5:15 pm local time, a amateur-built ACRO SPORT II, registered N5181V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hornell, New York (Hornell Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDEPATH. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THIS TYPE OF AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1994 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hornell, New York · Hornell Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ACRO SPORT II ACRO SPORT
- Registration
- N5181V · registry record · serial 686
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON A RUNWAY WHERE THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN IS LOWER AT THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. ON SHORT FINAL TO THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT LOST SIGHT OF THE LANDING AREA. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK THE RISING TERRAIN AT THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY, COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED. THE PILOT HAD JUST PURCHASED THE HOMEBUILT BI-PLANE 2 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT'S TOTAL FLYING EXPERIENCE IN BI-PLANES WAS THE 7 HOURS FLOWN IN THIS AIRPLANE. THREE OF THE FLIGHT HOURS WAS ACCOMPLISHED DURING A FERRY FLIGHT FROM OHIO TO NEW YORK. THE PILOT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY DUAL INSTRUCTION IN THE AIRPLANE, ONLY A VERBAL BRIEFING. THE PILOT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE LOSS OF FORWARD VISIBILITY, AND THE HIGH DRAG AND CORRESPONDING HIGH SINK RATES DURING SLOW, POWER OFF APPROACHES.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,868 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 180 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 3, 1994; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 11D Clarion PA at 3:45 pm
- Destination: 4G6 NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,400 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:00 pm from ELM, 37 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.