- Date
- August 25, 2007, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Cambridge, MD
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N8157QMcNicholas S-12
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 27, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Baltimore FSDO
- FAA report
- 20070825830559A
- Case key
- 66504
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The non certificated pilot's failure to remove the control lock prior to taxi and takeoff.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The non-certificated pilot stated he completed an adjustment on the brake linage and taxied the airplane to the runway to test the brakes. The cockpit, before starting, and pre take off checklist were not performed. The pilot applied power after taxing onto the runway and the airplane became airborne. The nose of the airplane pitched straight up, and the airplane reached an altitude of about 30 feet. The pilot stated he attempted to push the control stick forward to lower the nose and was unsuccessful. The control stick was moved to the left and the pilot reduced the power. The airplane turned to the left in a nose down, left wing low attitude, and collided with the ground. The pilot exited the airplane, reached back inside the airplane, and shut the engine down. When the pilot was asked if he experienced any mechanical malfunction before the accident, he stated no, "It was a dumb mistake, I did not remove the seatbelt from around the right control stick."
Factual narrative
The non-certificated pilot stated he completed an adjustment on the brake linage and taxied the airplane to the runway to test the brakes. The cockpit, before starting, and pre take off checklist were not performed. The pilot applied power after taxing onto the runway and the airplane became airborne. The nose of the airplane pitched straight up, and the airplane reached an altitude of about 30 feet. The pilot stated he attempted to push the control stick forward to lower the nose and was unsuccessful. The control stick was moved to the left and the pilot reduced the power. The airplane turned to the left in a nose down, left wing low attitude, and collided with the ground. The pilot exited the airplane, reached back inside the airplane, and shut the engine down. When the pilot was asked if he experienced any mechanical malfunction before the accident, he stated no, "It was a dumb mistake, I did not remove the seatbelt from around the right control stick."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8157Q
- Reported as
- McNicholas S-12
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 0194470
- Airframe hours
- 289
- Engine
- Rotax 912, 80 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert C. Hill
- Registered owner
- Quinn M. Locklear
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · November 1, 2006 · 8 hours before
- Departed
- KCGE · Cambridge, MD
- Airport
- KCGE · Cambridge-Dorchester Airport, runway 16, 4,476 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 67
- Injuries
- Serious
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 285 total · 185 in this make and model · 10 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 79 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.89 inHg
- Observed at
- KNHK, 23 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.