Amateur-built FISHER CLASSIC accident near Abingdon, Virginia, June 1, 1998
On June 1, 1998 at about 10:30 pm local time, a amateur-built FISHER CLASSIC, registered N485AJ, was destroyed in an accident near Abingdon, Virginia (Virginia Highlands 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 inadequate preflight of the airplane which resulted in water contamination of the fuel system. A factor was the location of the fuel tank's sump.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 1998 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Abingdon, Virginia · Virginia Highlands · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FISHER CLASSIC FISHER CLA
- Registration
- N485AJ · no longer on the register · serial C065
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The homebuilt departed the runway and was climbing through 200 feet (AGL) when the pilot started a gentle turn to reverse course. Halfway through the turn the engine lost power. The pilot completed the course reversal, but was unable to maneuver to a suitable landing area because of limited attitude and airspeed, and the airplane collided with a track hoe. Water was found in both carburetors and main fuel screen. According to the pilot/builder, the position of the fuel tank sump required the airplane to be in a level attitude in order to completely drain water from the tank.
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: 496 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 495 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 30, 1997; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hirth 2706-2C2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VJH at 10:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,470 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from TRI, 220 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.