# NTSB CEN14CA250: Santschi Chris A Vans RV8, N627CS, Bonne Terre, MO, May 16, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 16, 2014, 09:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place: Bonne Terre, MO
- Coordinates: 37, -90 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0000&lon=-90.0000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 5, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89276
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA250
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89276/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89276
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA250

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control on takeoff.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot said that during the takeoff roll in his tail wheel-equipped airplane, he lifted the tail off the ground when the airplane was about 50 feet down the runway. The airplane then made a sudden turn to the left and veered off the runway. The left wing struck the ground and the airplane flipped over,which resulted in substantial damage to both wings, the vertical stabilizer and an engine mount. The pilot reported the wind was blowing about 5 knots directly down the runway and there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane or the engine.

## Factual narrative

The private pilot said that during the takeoff roll in his tail wheel-equipped airplane, he lifted the tail off the ground when the airplane was about 50 feet down the runway. The airplane then made a sudden turn to the left and veered off the runway. The left wing struck the ground and the airplane flipped over,which resulted in substantial damage to both wings, the vertical stabilizer and an engine mount. The pilot reported the wind was blowing about 5 knots directly down the runway and there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane or the engine.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N627CS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SANTSCHI CHRIS A VANS RV8 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 80881
- Year built: 2005
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Santschi Chris A
- Registered owner: Santschi Chris A
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: 1BT, Bonne Terre, MO
- Destination: 1BT, Bonne Terre, MO
- Airport: 1BT, Bonne Terre Municipal, runway 32, 2,900 × 49 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 175 total, 52 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20140516007669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140516007669A), May 16, 2014: Santschi Chris A VANS RV8, Bonne Terre, MO, Substantial damage. The pilot stated at 09:15 he taxied out to runway 32 at 1BT. The aircraft run up showed no aircraft discrepancies. On the takeoff roll the tail wheel lifted…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 29, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89276. 585 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 585 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412844&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.

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