# Accident 20150331004649A: Aircraft Mfg & Dvlpmt Co CH601XL SLSA, Pleasanton, KS, March 31, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 31, 2015, 16:37 local time
- Place: Pleasanton, KS
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.2036° N, 94.7403° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2036&lon=-94.7403&mi=10
- Aircraft: N623HS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N623HS-2018-03-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aircraft Mfg & Dvlpmt CH601XL SLSA (registry code 060002Y, https://openairdocs.org/model/aircraft-mfg-dvlpmt-ch601xl-slsa) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental O-200 series (registry code 17402, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRCRAFT MFG & DVLPMT CO CH601XL SLSA
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR O-200A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN15FA187](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA187) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150331004649A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 31, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 15:40 LOCAL TIME (2040 UTC) A PRIVATE PILOT WITH SPORT PILOT ENDORSEMENT WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT WHILE DEPARTING A PRIVATE GRASS AIRSTRIP LOCATED APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES NORTHWEST OF PLEASANTON, KS.   WEATHER CONDITIONS AT NEW CENTURY AIRPORT (KIXD) LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 44 MILES NORTH/NORTH-WEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE WERE REPORTED AS WINDS FROM SOUTHEAST AT 8 KNOTS, CLEAR SKIES, VISIBILITY 10 STATUTE MILES, TEMPERATURE 24 DEGREES CELSIUS (2053 UTC).  THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED AND THE PLANE WAS DESTROYED.

ACCORDING TO A WITNESS THE FLIGHT DEPARTED TO THE NORTH IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITH A LIGHT NORTHEASTERLY WIND.  THE AIRCRAFT INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WAS CH-601XL SLSA/ZODIAC, OWNED BY THE AIRMAN.

ACCORDING TO THE WITNESSES, THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO ROTATE EARLY IN THE TAKEOFF ROLL FOR A SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF; HOWEVER NEVER REDUCED THE ANGLE OF ATTACK AFTER LIFT-OFF.  THEY SAW THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUE IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, CLIMBING APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO DRIFT WEST OF CENTERLINE TOWARD THE TREES.  DUE TO VISUAL OBSTRUCTION BY THE TREES AND A HANGAR, THE WITNESSES COULD NOT SEE THE IMPACT OF THE AIRCRAFT BUT HEARD THE NOISE OF IMPACT.

THE AIRCRAFT APPEARS TO HAVE SETTLED TAIL FIRST INTO THE TREES DUE TO DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING ON THE LEADING EDGE.  THEN, EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER AND IMPACTED THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES PAST VERTICAL, INVERTED.

## 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 CEN15FA187](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15FA187), Mar 31, 2015: Aircraft Mfg & Dvlpmt CH601XL (N623HS), Pleasanton, KS, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's excessively high angle-of-attack on rotation that prevented the airplane from climbing sufficiently to avoid the approaching trees.

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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