- Date
- July 6, 2010, 18:40 local (Jul 7, 2010, 00:40 UTC)
- Place
- Bison, SD
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N391EUSkykits Savannah VGW
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 20, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-FSDO-RAP
- FAA report
- 20100706038439A
- Case key
- 76695
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 directional control of the airplane after encountering a gust of wind while taking off with a crosswind.
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 reported that he applied right aileron to correct for a 9-knot crosswind during takeoff. The airplane encountered a gust of wind just after liftoff about 5 feet above the runway. The pilot stated that he "over-reacted" in applying right aileron and lowering the nose of the aircraft. The airplane drifted off the left side of the runway, where it descended into 30- to 36-inch-tall grass. The right wing tip contacted the ground followed by the rest of the airplane, causing substantial damage to the right wing.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported he applied right aileron to correct for a 9 knot crosswind during takeoff. The airplane encountered a gust of wind just after liftoff about 5 feet above the runway. The pilot stated he "over-reacted" in applying right aileron and lowering the nose of the aircraft. The airplane drifted off the left side of the runway where it descended into 30 to 36 inch tall grass. The right wingtip contacted the ground followed by the rest of the airplane. Substantial damage resulted to the right wing.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N391EU
- Reported as
- Skykits Savannah VGW
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 08-11-51-786
- Airframe hours
- 48
- Engine
- Rotax 912, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry · Part 91
- Operator
- Ken Morhain
- Registered owner
- Ken Morhain
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Departed
- 6V5 · Bison, SD
- Destination
- MLS · Miles City, MT
- Airport
- 6V5 · Bison Municipal Airport, runway 29, 3,500 × 60 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
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 15, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,463 total · 410 in this make and model · 1,463 as pilot in command · 43 in the last 90 days · 26 in the last 30 days · 13 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 9 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.10 inHg
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 19, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.2 MB 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.