# NTSB ANC14CA059: Steven R Mcneese Airborne Edge X, N821AK, Palmer, AK, August 2, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 2, 2014, 13:10 local (21:10 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.530834, -149.011672 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5308&lon=-149.0117&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FSDO-3 - NTSB case key (mKey): 89802 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC14CA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89802/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89802 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA059 ## Probable cause The non-certificated pilot's failure to maintain directional control while performing a high speed taxi test and inadvertent lift-off, which resulted in an inflight collision with trees and terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Steven R Mcneese AIRBORNE EDGE X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056322K), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Steven R Mcneese AIRBORNE EDGE X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056322K), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Steven R Mcneese AIRBORNE EDGE X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056322K), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-certificated pilot was performing a high speed taxi test at a privately-owned, dirt and gravel-covered airport, in his tricycle-gear equipped weight-shift-control airplane. He reported that after arriving at the airport, he assembled the airplane, and then did a thorough preflight, which included checking wind conditions aloft by releasing helium balloons. He stated that the airplane had recently undergone an extensive rebuild, and he intended to do series postmaintenance taxi tests before flying the airplane. During the first high speed taxi test, as the airplane reached a takeoff speed, the pilot pushed the control bar forward, and the airplane became airborne. In an attempt to land the airplane and gain additional airspeed, the pilot pulled back on the control bar, but the airplane began to roll to the left. The pilot then applied full right control bar input, but the airplane continued to the left, and it subsequently collided with a stand of trees, sustaining substantial damage to the wings. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The non-certificated pilot was performing a high speed taxi test at a privately-owned, dirt and gravel-covered airport, in his tricycle-gear equipped weight-shift-control airplane. He reported that after arriving at the airport, he assembled the airplane, and then did a thorough preflight, which included checking wind conditions aloft by releasing helium balloons. He stated that the airplane had recently undergone an extensive rebuild, and he intended to do series postmaintenance taxi tests before flying the airplane. During the first high speed taxi test, as the airplane reached a takeoff speed, the pilot pushed the control bar forward, and the airplane became airborne. In an attempt to land the airplane and gain additional airspeed, the pilot pulled back on the control bar, but the airplane began to roll to the left. The pilot then applied full right control bar input, but the airplane continued to the left, and it subsequently collided with a stand of trees, sustaining substantial damage to the wings. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been prevented if he would have been more familiar with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N821AK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N821AK-2018-03-08), registration cancelled 2018-03-08, S/N 582-796 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STEVEN R MCNEESE AIRBORNE EDGE X (Classic X) - Registry model: [Steven R Mcneese AIRBORNE EDGE X](https://openairdocs.org/model/steven-r-mcneese-airborne-edge-x) (registry code 056322K) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 582-796 - Airframe hours: 206 - Engines: Rotax 582 64 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mcneese Steven R - Registered owner: Mcneese Steven R - Airworthiness certificate: None - Departed: AK1, Palmer, AK - Destination: AK1, Palmer, AK - Airport: AK1, Butte Muni, runway 07, 1,806 × 50 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 17 total, 17 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: PAAQ, 5 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20140802015249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140802015249A), Aug 2, 2014: Steven R Mcneese AIRBORNE EDGE X, Butte, AK, Substantial damage. Airman had been "shaking down" the aircraft and this was intended as a high speed taxi only. During high speed taxi, right wing came up and aircraft became… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 2, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89802. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422034&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.