NTSB Factual Report

On Thursday, July 15, 1993, a home built RANS S10, N217ER, owned, operated, and piloted by Jeffrey S. Compton of Catawissa, Pennsylvania, collided with terrain during an excessive maneuver over a private air field in Numidia, Pennsylvania. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

A witness located in his front yard near the airport stated, "Aircraft was taking off heading west, banking slightly southwest at approximately 150 ft. in altitude. The nose of [the] aircraft pitched down causing plane to roll counter clockwise one and a half times before striking ground in [a] field. The engine of plane never cut off during dive." The witness stated that he was the first to arrive at the accident scene and [smelled] a strong odor of fuel. He stated that he "...removed [the] cockpit top, [and] shut off ignition and fuel pumps."

Another witness located at the Numidia airport stated, "The plane took off and leveled at approx 300' to 400' just as it was crossing Rte 42 & then pilot appeared to bank left, then plane was on edge & started spinning left towards ground approx 3 spins till it was out of vision."

Another witness located at the Numidia airport stated, "Jeff climbed out to an altitude of approximately 400', then he proceeded to bank 60 degrees to the left, as he was banking he went into a vicious three turn spin. His engine was running."

The airframe and engine were examined at the accident site on July 15 and 16, 1993. The examination did not reveal any airframe or engine anomalies. Control continuity of the surface positions was verified.

According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the pilot bought the airplane on Sunday, July 11, 1993, four days prior to the accident. The pilot's log book indicated he had a total of 20 hours flying time in the accident airplane.

The autopsy was performed by Dr. Kenny at the Bloomsburg Hospital located in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, on July 16, 1993. The autopsy revealed no evidence of physical incapacitation that would have been causal to the accident.

The toxicological tests were performed by Dr. Dennis V. Canfield at the Civil Aeromedical Institute located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Negative results were reported for all screened drugs and volatiles.

The airplane wreckage was released to George Beaver, Airport Manager, Numidia, Pennsylvania, on July 16, 1993.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE EXCESSIVE MANEUVER ATTEMPTED BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT AND AN INADVERTENT SPIN AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT FOR RECOVERY.