# Accident 20090424016809A: Tecnam P2002SIERRA, Lake Wales, FL, April 24, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 24, 2009, 11:10 local time
- Place: Lake Wales, FL
- Airport: Chalet Suzanne Air Strip
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.9528° N, 81.6011° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9528&lon=-81.6011&mi=10
- Aircraft: N122LS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N122LS-2018-01-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P2002 SIERRA (registry code 0600006, https://openairdocs.org/model/costruzioni-aeronautiche-tecna-p2002-sierra) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912ULS series (registry code 55572, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TECNAM P2002SIERRA
- Reported engine: ROTAX ROTAX*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 69 total, 69 in this make and model, 26 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA09CA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA262) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090424016809A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT DEPARTED ON RUNWAY 18 IN A SPECIAL LIGHT SPORT AIRPLANE, WITH HIS GRANDSON ONBOARD.  THE TURF RUNWAY WAS 2,313-FEET-LONG BY 50-FEET-WIDE, AND SLOPED DOWN TOWARD THE MIDDLE, WITH SANDY, SOFT SOIL.  THE RECORDED WIND AT AN AIRPORT LOCATED 9 MILES WEST OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPORT, ABOUT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, WAS FROM 150 DEGREES AT 4 KNOTS.  THE AIRPLANE WEIGHT ABOUT 1,250 POUNDS AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE; LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT OF 1,320 POUNDS.  A WITNESS STATED THAT THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ROTATE AND CLIMB, BUT DID NOT LOWER THE AIRPLANE'S PITCH ATTITUDE TO GAIN AIRSPEED IN GROUND EFFECT.  THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED THE GROUND ONCE, ABOUT 1,600 FEET, AND AGAIN ABOUT 2,500 FEET FROM THE POINT OF INITIAL TAKEOFF.  ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS, THE PILOT CONTINUED HIS TAKEOFF ROLL AND WALLOWED IN GROUND EFFECT.  THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A TREE, APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED.  A POSTCRASH FIRE SUBSEQUENTLY CONSUMED THE AIRPLANE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA09CA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA262), Apr 24, 2009: Tecnam P2002 Sierra (N122LS), Lake Wales, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control and failure to maintain clearance from trees during initial climb.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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