- Date
- September 30, 2015, 09:35 local (14:35 UTC)
- Place
- Bartlesville, OK
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N903ABCapella Aircraft Corporation ( FW2TDXLS
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 4, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20150930020639A
- Case key
- 92112
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 to maintain airplane control after takeoff.
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 private pilot was conducting a personal flight in the experimental airplane. He reported that, during climbout, the right wing kept "coming up" and that the airplane was banking left. The pilot attempted to level the airplane but was unsuccessful. The airplane turned 360 degrees, and the airplane's nose started to drop. The pilot reduced the engine power and continued trying to level the airplane. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground on the left wing and landing gear and came to rest on its nose. An examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have prevented normal operation.
Factual narrative
On September 30, 2015, about 0935 central daylight time, a Capella Aircraft Corporation (Blankenship) FW2TDXLS experimental airplane, N903AB, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Bartlesville Municipal Airport (KBVU), Bartlesville, Oklahoma. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by private individuals under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which operated without a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot's written statement, during the climb out the right wing kept "coming up," and the airplane wanted to bank to the left. The pilot attempted to level the wings but was unsuccessful. The airplane turned 360 degrees and the nose of the airplane started to drop. The pilot reduced the engine power and continued to try and level the airplane. The airplane impacted the ground on the left wing and landing gear and came to rest on its nose. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who traveled to the scene, the pilot was conducting a "low pass" so that the owner could record a video of the airplane flying. The right stabilizer, left wing, and fuselage were substantially damaged. Examination of the airplane established that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have prevented normal operation during the accident flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N903AB
- Reported as
- Capella Aircraft Corporation ( FW2TDXLS
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- B12
- Built
- 2008
- Airframe hours
- 7.2
- Engine
- Jabiru 2200, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Joseph Sigler
- Registered owner
- Akers John
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · August 4, 2015
- Departed
- KBVO · Bartlesville, OK
- Destination
- KBVO · Bartlesville, OK
- Airport
- KBVO · Bartlesville Municipal Airport
- Equipment
- None
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
- 81
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 28, 2015
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 1,650.6 total · 3 in this make and model · 1,587.9 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 40° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.14 inHg
- Observed at
- KBVO
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 22, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.6 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.