- Date
- March 3, 1993, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Durham, ME
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N942PSAsselyn Xenair CH701
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 25, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930303004409A
- Case key
- 8768
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 pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control after lift-off. Factors related to the accident were: the unfavorable wind condition and proximity of the power line.
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 pilot took off from his backyard airstrip. He stated that after reaching 'tree top level,' the airplane encountered 'a good gust of wind' and went into about a 60 degree left bank. He stated that a power line was about 200 feet away and that he did not have time to recover. The airplane impacted the power line, then crashed. No preimpact mechanical malfunction was reported.
Factual narrative
On March 3, 1993, at about 1600 eastern standard time, an Asselyn Zenair CH701 homebuilt airplane, N942PS, owned and operated by Phillip Peter Asselyn of Durham, Maine, sustained substantial damage at impact with power lines and terrain immediately after takeoff from a private airstrip in Durham. The pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91.
According to the pilot:
"After preflight and run up I departed my backyard field to the southwest. The weather was clear, about 2 inches of soft snow on the ground and no noticeable wind. The sun was right in my eyes. I proceeded with normal short field takeoff and climbed normally to about tree top level. I had 1/2 flaps in. About tree top level a good gust of wind hit me and the aircraft went into about a 60 [degree] bank to the left. The power lines were only about 200 feet away and I did not have time to recover. I struck the power line and lost consciousness. . . "
No mechanical malfunctions were reported.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N942PS
- Reported as
- Asselyn Xenair CH701 (XENAIR CH7)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 7-1568
- Airframe hours
- 180
- Engine
- Rotax 582 UL, 64 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Asselyn, Phillip Peter
- Registered owner
- Asselyn, Phillip Peter
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 31, 1992
- Airport
- Grass Strip, runway 20, 700 × 60 ft, grass/turf
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
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 800 total · 180 in this make and model · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 43 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N942PS · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.