# NTSB CEN12LA642: Aeropro CZ A240, N812S, Greenfield, MO, August 19, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 19, 2012, 09:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: Greenfield, MO - Coordinates: 37.468055, -93.929443 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4681&lon=-93.9294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 85078 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA642 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85078/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85078 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA642 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain a proper takeoff speed or pitch attitude during takeoff, which resulted in the airplane settling on the runway and impacting trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeropro CZ S R O A240, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md?model=060006U), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeropro CZ S R O A240, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060006U), [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. - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeropro CZ S R O A240, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=060006U), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Aeropro CZ S R O A240, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=060006U), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Aeropro CZ S R O A240, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=060006U), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Aeropro CZ S R O A240, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=060006U), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aeropro CZ S R O A240, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060006U), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was taking off on a short grass runway and settled back onto the runway immediately after it lifted off. It then veered off the runway and impacted trees. The pilot attempted to abort the takeoff but did not reduce the engine power, and was unable to stop the airplane before it hit the trees. Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of preimpact malfunction or anomaly that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that insufficient airspeed and/or an improper pitch attitude during the takeoff resulted in the airplane settling onto the runway. ## Factual narrative On August 19, 2012, at 0915 central daylight time, an Aeropro CZ, N812S, impacted terrain during takeoff from Woodfield Airpark Inc, Lockwood, Missouri. The airplane lifted off the runway and settled back on the ground and impacted a tree. The pilot and a passenger were uninjured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The airplane was registered to DNS Ventures LLC and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the flight that was originating at the time of the accident.The pilot stated that the during the takeoff from the northeast runway (1,700 feet by 120 feet, "rough" turf), he applied forward pressure on the control stick while holding right rudder control input after the airplane lifted off "slightly." The right main landing gear then contacted the runway, and the airplane began to turn right. The pilot stated that "normally" at this point in the takeoff, the airplane has attained a positive rate of climb, but during the accident takeoff it did not feel like it was accelerating or climbing as it had on prior takeoffs. The pilot aborted the takeoff since he felt that the airplane was not going to fly. The pilot stated that he was convinced that the airplane remained in a stall as it touched back down and until it impacted trees. The pilot stated that he pulled on the throttle control to reduce engine power with "a lot of effort," but his thumb was not a position to depress the release button on the vernier throttle control, which was located next to a panel mounted brake control. He said that the airplane was not equipped with toe brakes. The pilot stated that he had never encountered an airplane with a vernier throttle control and a panel mounted brake control. He received a light sport aircraft checkout and flight review in an airplane that was identical to the accident airplane except that it did not have a vernier throttle control, which had been replaced with a push-pull throttle control by the airplane owner. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N812S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N812S-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 34712, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeropro CZ A240 - Registry model: [Aeropro CZ S R O A240](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeropro-cz-s-r-o-a240) (registry code 060006U) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34712 - Airframe hours: 35 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: DNS Ventures - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: MU27, Greenfield, MO - Destination: MU27, Greenfield, MO - Airport: MU27, Woodfield Airpark Inc, runway 04, 1,700 × 120 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, unknown; last flight review March 5, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 811 total, 766 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: SGF, 30 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 20120819020339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120819020339A), Aug 19, 2012: Aeropro Cz A240, Greenfield, MO, Substantial damage. The pilot was performing a soft field takeoff, rotated, was airborne for a short time (2 to 3 seconds), and then the aircraft settled back onto the sod,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85078. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391595&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records - SGF (item 2, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391593&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records%20-%20SGF-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.