# NTSB CEN11LA464: Burtner Charles W Derjager D IX, N7808M, East Liverpool, OH, July 7, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 7, 2011, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: East Liverpool, OH - Coordinates: 40.630989, -80.559532 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6310&lon=-80.5595&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 27, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Cleveland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81046 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA464 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81046/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81046 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA464 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a porpoised landing and propeller contact with the runway, which caused an in-flight disintegration of the propeller during the go-around, and subsequent collision with trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Burtner Charles W DERJAGER D IX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05612ZK), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01040000): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Burtner Charles W DERJAGER D IX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01040000/cases.md?model=05612ZK), [All aircraft, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01040000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Burtner Charles W DERJAGER D IX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05612ZK), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [Burtner Charles W DERJAGER D IX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=05612ZK), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Burtner Charles W DERJAGER D IX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05612ZK), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had recently purchased the amateur-built airplane and had little experience with the flight and ground handling characteristics of the airplane. During the accident flight, while landing, the airplane porpoised, and the propeller struck the runway surface. The pilot aborted the landing attempt, and when the airplane was about 100 feet above the ground, the propeller disintegrated and the engine began to vibrate violently. The pilot executed a forced landing and struck trees and the ground during the off-airport landing. ## Factual narrative On July 7, 2011, about 1800 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Burtner Derjager D IX, N7808M, sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees and terrain during a forced landing after an aborted landing from runway 7 at the Columbiana County Airport, East Liverpool, Ohio. The pilot received serious injuries. The airplane was registered to an individual and operated by a commercial pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight which was not operating on a flight plan. The local flight originated about 1730. The pilot reported that he had purchased the airplane several months prior to the accident and had made modifications to the cockpit to provide more room. He stated that he had discussed the flight characteristics of the airplane with the previous owner on several occasions. On the day of the accident, the pilot performed high-speed taxi tests on runway 25. On the third high-speed taxi test, he pulled the airplane into the air. The pilot reported that the airplane had a positive rate of climb and that the controls were sensitive. He stated that he made several touch and goes during the flight. During the final touch and go, the airplane porpoised and the landing gear struck the runway hard. The pilot applied power and aborted the landing. When the airplane was about 100 feet above the ground, the propeller disintegrated and the engine began to vibrate violently. The pilot reported that he pulled the throttle control back and looked for a place to land. He stated that he had no further recollection of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7808M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7808M-2019-03-14), registration cancelled 2019-03-14, S/N 97, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BURTNER CHARLES W DERJAGER D IX - Registry model: [Burtner Charles W DERJAGER D IX](https://openairdocs.org/model/burtner-charles-w-derjager-d-ix) (registry code 05612ZK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-290-series) (registry code 42083, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 97 - Airframe hours: 50 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 24, 2011 - Departed: 02G, East Liverpool, OH - Destination: 02G, East Liverpool, OH - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: 02G, Columbiana County Airport, runway 07, 3,503 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 26, 2011; seat: single; flight hours: 5,000 total, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: BVI, 12 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 20110707014639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110707014639A), Jul 7, 2011: Burtner Charles W DERJAGER D IX, East Liverpool, OH, Destroyed. Pilot touched down on runway, struck the prop, bounced a/c, touched down again and struck prop again, bounced and continued to fly eventually was unable to… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 16, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81046. 451 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 451 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384406&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.