# Accident 20120317004369A: Sadler Terry A MERLIN, Otisfield, ME, March 17, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 17, 2012, 12:30 local time
- Place: Otisfield, ME
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.0494° N, 70.5247° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0494&lon=-70.5247&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6113Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6113Y-2017-10-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Sadler Terry A MERLIN (registry code 05610OS, https://openairdocs.org/model/sadler-terry-a-merlin) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Subaru ALL MDLS A/B (registry code 59050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SADLER TERRY A MERLIN
- Reported engine: SUBARU ALL MDLS A/B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 990 total, 62 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA12LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA230) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120317004369A

## Narrative

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

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO TEST FLY THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF INFLATABLE FLOATS.UPON THE AIRPLANE BECOMING AIRBORNE, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ NOTICED THAT IT TOOK ALMOST FULL FORWARD ELEVATOR CONTROL TO KEEP THE AIRPLANE LEVEL.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS STRUCK BY A GUST OF WIND, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ APPLIED FORWARD ELEVATOR TO COUNTERACT THE PITCH-UP.  SUFFICIENT ELEVATOR CONTROL WAS NOT AVAILABLE.  THE AIRCRAFT STALLED, AND STRUCK THE FROZEN SURFACE OF THE LAKE.

## 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 ERA12LA230](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA230), Mar 17, 2012: Sadler Terry A Merlin (N6113Y), Otisfield, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was his lack of experience in the airplane make and model.

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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