NTSB Factual Report

On August 18, 2018, about 1950 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Glasair SHA , N38WS, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Pitt-Greenville Airport (PGV), Greenville, North Carolina. The private pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Washington-Warren Airport (OCW), Washington, North Carolina about 1945.

The pilot reported that he was conducting a personal flight from OCW to Donaldson Field Airport (GYH) Greenville, South Carolina, about 650 miles. He reported that tThe preflight inspection and enginethe runup were normal. and after departing OCW The airplane departed runway 5, and climbed to all indications appeared normal while climbing through 1,500 ft mean sea level (msl). During the climb through 3,000 ft mean sea level (msl) without incident; however, as the airplane continued to climb, the pilot noticed the engine began to run rough; the fuel flow, which was normally "11 to 12, was around 8" gallons per hour. He continued to climb and aAs the airplane approached 3,500 ft msl, the engine completely "quit". He was passing PGV airport at the time and elected to attempt make an emergency landing at PGV. The pilotHe spiraled the airplane down, but during the last turn, he it was too low to reachmake the runway and he landed in a field. The airplane touched down normally but struck a drainage ditch before coming to rest.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the main landing gear was displaced, which damaged the underside of the fuselage and wings. In addition, the propeller blades were curled.

According to FAA records, the airplane was issued an experimental amateur built aircraft airworthiness certificate in the experimental category on July 16, 1985. It was a two-place, internally braced low-wing airplane, that was equipped with tailwheel landing gear, and a Lycoming O-320, 160-horsepower engine with a Hartzell two-blade metal constant-speed propeller.

The weather conditions reported at PGV, at 1950, included wind calm, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 25° C, dew point 24° C, and an altimeter setting of 29.92 inches of mercury.

The airplane was recovered from the accident site and retained for further examination.