# NTSB CEN09LA265: T Bird T Bird II, N154ZX, Carlock, IL, April 15, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 15, 2009, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Carlock, IL - Coordinates: 40.599998, -89.057502 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6000&lon=-89.0575&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway incursion veh/AC/person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 73739 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA265 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73739/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73739 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA265 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to gain sufficient altitude during the takeoff in order to avoid contacting the cameraman. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [T Bird T BIRD II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035/cases.md?model=05904YA), [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [T Bird T BIRD II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05904YA), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [T Bird T BIRD II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=05904YA), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [T Bird T BIRD II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05904YA), [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: Runway incursion veh/AC/person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320) (defining event); cases with it: [T Bird T BIRD II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320/sequence.md?model=05904YA), [All aircraft, 104 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was taking off at an airspeed of 40 miles per hour when the right main landing gear contacted a cameraman who was sitting on the grass airstrip. The cameraman, who was seriously injured, was going to film the light sport airplane as it took off and flew directly over him. The uncertificated pilot stated that he was not able to gain sufficient altitude to avoid contacting the cameraman. The pilot purchased the airplane approximately 2 months prior to the accident. His logbook showed 2 entries for a total of 3.3 hours of dual flight time in another make and model airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 15, 2009, at 1400 central daylight time, an experimental light-sport T Bird II, N154ZX, collided with a person while taking off from a farm field in Carlock, Illinois. The pilot, who did not hold a pilot certificate, was not injured. The person on the ground received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported to local authorities that a cameraman was in the field to film him taking off directly over the cameraman. He stated he was not able to gain enough altitude and the right main gear contacted the cameraman during the takeoff. He stated he was traveling approximately 40 miles per hour when the airplane contacted the cameraman. A witness reported the cameraman was sitting on the ground with his legs crossed when the accident occurred. The witness stated the right main gear contacted the camera, pushing it back into the cameraman’s face, and knocking the cameraman to the ground. He stated the cameraman was unconscious after the impact. The cameraman does not recall the impact. He reported that he was going to film the airplane taking off and the next thing he recalls is waking up in the ambulance. According to a relative of the cameraman, he required spinal surgery as a result of his injuries and is currently experiencing paralysis of the arms and legs. The camera being used was examined. The camera did not contain a recording of the accident sequence. The pilot purchased the airplane approximately 2 months prior to the accident. The pilot's logbook showed 2 entries for a total of 3.3 hours of dual flight time in another make and model airplane. The pilot told the flight instructor that he purchased the airplane and the instructor reported that he told the pilot he needed a pilot certificate in order to fly it. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N154ZX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N154ZX-2017-05-31), registration cancelled 2017-05-31, S/N REW 1254, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: T BIRD T BIRD II - Registry model: [T Bird T BIRD II](https://openairdocs.org/model/t-bird-t-bird-ii) (registry code 05904YA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 532](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-532) (registry code 55579, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: REW 1254 - Engines: ROTAX 532 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Fasking Daniel M - Registered owner: Fasking Daniel M - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: Carlock, IL - Destination: Carlock, IL - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; flight hours: 3 total, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: BMI, 13 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 20090415009059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090415009059A), Apr 15, 2009: Amtr TBIRDII, Carlock, IL, Minor damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] was taking off on a privately owned bean field in a light sport aircraft when he struck a cameraman who was filming the takeoff.… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73739. 868 KB in all. - Record of Interview (item 1, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314295&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Interview-Master.PDF - CFI Statement (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314296&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CFI%20Statement-Master.PDF - McLean County Sheriff's Office Report (item 3, .PDF, 388 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314297&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=McLean%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Office%20Report-Master.PDF - Logbook Entries (item 4, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314298&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Logbook%20Entries-Master.PDF - Aircraft Registration Information (item 5, .PDF, 278 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314299&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Registration%20Information-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.