- Date
- July 31, 2009, 12:06 local (16:06 UTC)
- Place
- Montezuma, IN
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N91226Rans Employee Flying Club Rans S-6S
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20090731016799A
- Case key
- 74460
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 failure to maintain aircraft control after takeoff resulting in an impact with a power line and the ground.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot departed on a local flight from his private airstrip. The pilot stated that he felt a gust of wind from the west and was not able to maintain control of the airplane. He stated that he did not anticipate the wind directional change as the wind sock was "down" when he took off. The airplane’s left wing impacted a powerline and the airplane impacted terrain. A ground fire occurred.
Factual narrative
The pilot departed on a local flight from his private airstrip. The pilot stated, “I feel a gust of wind from the West got me into trouble and I was not able to regain control of my plane. I did not anticipate this directional change as the wind sock was down upon take-off.” The airplane’s left wing impacted a powerline and the airplane impacted terrain. A ground fire occurred.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N91226
- Reported as
- Rans Employee Flying Club Rans S-6S
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 08001385
- Airframe hours
- 136
- Engine
- Bombardier 912 SUL, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Donald J. Garrard
- Registered owner
- Rockville Business Properties LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 2, 2009
- Departed
- 9IN6 · Montezuma, IN
- Destination
- 9IN6 · Montezuma, IN
- Airport
- 9IN6 · Garrard Airport
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
- 70
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 12, 2009
- Flight hours
- 357 total · 136 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 11,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Observed at
- PRG
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 841 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.