Primary finding
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall and subsequent uncontrolled descent and collision with the terrain.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
During the final approach the pilot stated that the airplane got too slow over the fence. The pilot also stated'...all systems in the aircraft were functioning normally, and there were no problems....as i cleared the trees on the approach end of runway 22, the aircraft sank rapidly and hit the ground.' postaccident examination revealed no preimpact anomalies with the engine or airframe.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 31, 1995, at 1655 eastern daylight time, a Wright Jungster-I, N26241, a homebuilt airplane, was substantially damaged, when it collided with terrain, during the final approach, at the Mansfield Municipal Airport, Mansfield, Massachusetts. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. There was no flight plan for the personal flight conducted under CFR 14 Part 91. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated, ...I was flying the pattern in a left hand order, and had made 2 circuits of the field. On the third time around, I decided to make a touch and go landing. All systems in the aircraft were functioning normally, and on turning final approach, my airspeed indicated 80 MPH. As I cleared the trees on the approach end of runway 22, the aircraft sank rapidly and hit the ground. During a telephone interview with the pilot, he stated that during the final approach, "I got slow over the fence" and the airplane started to descend. The airplane collided with the terrain and came to rest upside down. Additionally, the pilot stated that he had approximately 400 hours of total flying time, of which 17 hours were in the Wright Jungster-I. Postaccident examination by the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed no preimpact anomalies with the engine or airframe. -