- Date
- April 10, 2015, 14:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place
- Longmont, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N824CRennicke Midget Musta MM1
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 13, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- FAA report
- 20150410003359A
- Case key
- 91024
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 attain/maintain pitch control prior to attaining a proper takeoff speed during takeoff roll, which resulted in a premature liftoff of the airplane and loss of control.
Findings · 2
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 airplane impacted the runway surface during takeoff after it prematurely lifted off and cartwheeled to a stop facing in the opposite direction. The pilot stated that he knew the airplane was not at flying speed when it lifted off, so he moved the control stick forward to return the airplane to the runway surface, but the airplane bounced and veered left. He added additional engine power in attempt to keep the airplane flying. The left wing then dropped and contacted the runway, cartwheeling the airplane. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction/failure of the airplane at the time of the accident.
Factual narrative
The airplane impacted the runway surface during takeoff after it prematurely lifted off and cartwheeled to a stop facing in the opposite direction. The pilot stated that he knew the airplane was not at flying speed when it lifted off, so he moved the control stick forward to return the airplane to the runway surface, but the airplane bounced and veered left. He added additional engine power in attempt to keep the airplane flying. The left wing then dropped and contacted the runway, cartwheeling the airplane. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction/failure of the airplane at the time of the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N824C
- Reported as
- Rennicke Midget Musta MM1
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- MM1CR1
- Built
- 2013
- Airframe hours
- 15
- Engine
- Lycoming O290, 135 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Pilot
- Registered owner
- Pilot
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · December 20, 2014
- Departed
- LMO · Longmont, CO
- Destination
- LMO · Longmont, CO
- Airport
- LMO · Vance Brand, runway 11
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
- 57
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 18, 2014
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 240 total · 6 in this make and model · 183 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 70° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Observed at
- LMO
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 7, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.0 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.