- Date
- April 13, 1985, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Alta Vista, VA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N316SRRotec Rally 3
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 11174
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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
Each time the pilot applied nose up pitch control after take off, the acft settled but would maintain straight and level flight when the controls were neutralized. Due to the settling effect, obstruction clearance could not be attainedand the acft settled into trees at the end of the runway. The pilot was ejected when the stitching of his lap belt failed. The acft as previously flown successfully several times after assembly from the manufacturer's kit, but on the accident flight a 150 lb sand bag was strapped into the right seat. With the additional weight, the spoiler cables tightened as the wings produced lift, to the point that they inadvertently deployed with application of aft stick.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N316SR
- Reported as
- Rotec Rally 3
- Category
- Ultralight, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 25475
- Airframe hours
- 47
- Engine
- Rotax 503, 48 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Moral Majority Foundation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Airport
- Private Strip
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 7,310 total · 8 in this make and model · 7,310 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LYH, 15 nm away