# Accident 20140712014579A: Culver LFA, Limington, ME, July 12, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 12, 2014, 16:45 local time
- Place: Limington, ME
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.7625° N, 70.6775° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7625&lon=-70.6775&mi=10
- Aircraft: N41716, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41716) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Culver LFA (registry code 8730204, https://openairdocs.org/model/culver-lfa) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Franklin 4AC176C-D-F (registry code 27007, https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-4ac176c-d-f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CULVER LFA
- Reported engine: FRANKLIN 4AC176C-D-F
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 6,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA14FA337](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA337) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140712014579A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGED WHEN IT IMPACTED TREES DURING TAKEOFF FROM LIMINGTON AIRPORT (63B), LIMINGTON, MAINE. THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE PLANNED FLIGHT TO TWITCHELL AIRPORT (3B5), TURNER, MAINE.

ACCORDING TO A WITNESS AT 63B, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RUNWAY 29, IN A NOSE-HIGH ATTITUDE, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A STALL TO THE LEFT AND IMPACT WITH TREES OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. TWO OTHER WITNESSES, WHO LIVED NEXT TO THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, STATED THAT THEY HEARD A MOMENTARY SPUTTER OF ENGINE NOISE, FOLLOWED BY A RETURN TO POWER. THE ENGINE NOISE THEN SEEMED NORMAL FOR 5 TO 10 SECONDS, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY THE SOUND OF AN IMPACT. THEY DID NOT SEE THE IMPACT, BUT NOTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT AS HIGH AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY.

THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN AN AREA OF TREES IN A NOSE-DOWN, UPRIGHT ATTITUDE, ON A NORTHERLY HEADING ABOUT 250 FEET SOUTH OF THE RUNWAY. THE 20-GALLON HEADER FUEL TANK WAS COMPROMISED DURING IMPACT AND A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT AT THE SITE. BOTH MAIN LANDING GEAR WERE EXTENDED AND PARTIALLY SEPARATED DURING IMPACT. THE WINGS REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE FUSELAGE AND EXHIBITED LEADING EDGE CRUSH DAMAGE. THE EMPENNAGE REMAINED INTACT AND WAS CANTED LEFT. EXAMINATION OF THE COCKPIT REVEALED THAT THE THROTTLE AND MIXTURE CONTROLS WERE IN THE FULL-FORWARD POSITION. THE MAGNETO SWITCH WAS ON BOTH, THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS OFF AND THE PRIMER WAS IN AND LOCKED.

## 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 ERA14FA337](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA337), Jul 12, 2014: Culver LFA (N41716), Limington, ME, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during initial climb, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall.

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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