CEN12CA442

NTSB accident investigation · Doppelt Fredric F F. 8L Falco · Durango, CO · July 15, 2012

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
July 15, 2012, 09:10 local (15:10 UTC)
Place
Durango, CO
Injuries
2 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N532FDDoppelt Fredric F F. 8L Falco
Defining event
Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 7, 2012
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA-Salt Lake FSDO
FAA report
20120715014239A
Case key
84320

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane and the instructor's delayed remedial action.

Findings · 3

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.

Action: delayed actionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilotDoppelt Fredric F F. 8L FALCO: 1 caseAll aircraft: 894 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parametersAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedDoppelt Fredric F F. 8L FALCO: 1 caseAll aircraft: 1,269 casesProbable cause

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

**This report was modified on November 19, 2013. Please see the public docket for this accident to view the original report.** The airplane was being flown by a private pilot, who stated that he had flown the airplane with the previous owner but had not conducted any takeoffs or landings, and a flight instructor who was providing dual instruction. The pilot lost directional control of the airplane during the takeoff ground run, and the airplane subsequently became airborne at too slow of an airspeed. The pilot reduced the power to land the airplane back on the runway. The instructor stated that he told the pilot to lower the nose and to watch the airspeed then took control of the airplane. The instructor lowered the nose, and the pilot increased the power. The instructor stated that the left wing dropped as the airspeed increased, but he was able to level the wings. The right wing then dropped "very quickly," and he was not able to recover. The airplane came to rest inverted in the grass alongside the runway. The fuselage, wings, firewall, and the empennage were substantially damaged.

Factual narrative

**This report was modified on November 19, 2013. Please see the public docket for this accident to view the original report.** The airplane was being flown by a private pilot who just purchased it, and a certified flight instructor who was providing dual instruction. The private pilot stated that he had flown the airplane with the previous owner and that the previous owner made the takeoff and landing. The private pilot and instructor spent about 1 hour briefing and preparing for the flight. The private pilot stated that during the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left of the centerline. He stopped the airplane from drifting, but failed to pay attention to the airspeed. He looked at the airspeed which was about 55 knots, and when he looked back up, they were airborne. He stated his initial reaction was to reduce the power and put the airplane back on the runway. He then heard the instructor state that they were too slow so he advanced the throttle. He stated the airplane then settled to the ground off the left side of the runway. The instructor stated the airplane drifted to the left during the takeoff. He stated that when the airplane became airborne, the pitch attitude was too high and he instructed the private pilot to lower the nose of the airplane. He stated that the private pilot "froze at the controls." He stated he again instructed the private pilot to lower the nose and to watch the airspeed. When the instructor took control of the stick and lowered the nose in an attempt to gain airspeed, the private pilot advanced the throttle. He stated that as the airspeed increased, the left wing dropped, and he leveled the wings. The right wing then dropped "very quickly" and the instructor was not able to recover. A pilot flying in the airport traffic pattern at the time saw the airplane impact the ground and "cartwheel." The airplane came to rest inverted in the grass alongside the runway. The fuselage, wings, firewall, and the empennage were substantially damaged.

Aircraft

Registration
N532FD
Reported as
Doppelt Fredric F F. 8L Falco
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
1318
Airframe hours
353
Engine
Lycoming IO-360, 360 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Bruce Snyder
Registered owner
Doppelt Ventures LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Condition · November 10, 2011 · 353 hours before
Departed
KDRO · Durango, CO
Destination
KDRO · Durango, CO
Airport
KDRO · La Plata County Airport, runway 21, 9,201 × 150 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 · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
55
Injuries
Minor
Certificates
Flight instructor, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Right
Flight hours
10,600 total · 6 in this make and model · 10,457 as pilot in command · 54 in the last 90 days · 21 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot
Age
56
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
600 total · 0 in this make and model · 550 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days · 0 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
66 °F, dew point 52 °F
Altimeter
30.30 inHg
Observed at
KDRO

Docket · 8

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 15.2 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.