# NTSB CEN15LA437: Capella Aircraft Corporation ( FW2TDXLS, N903AB, Bartlesville, OK, September 30, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 30, 2015, 09:35 local (14:35 UTC) - Place: Bartlesville, OK - Coordinates: 36.763332, -96.011108 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7633&lon=-96.0111&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 4, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 92112 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA437 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92112/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92112 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA437 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control after 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: [Blankenship John H FW2TDXLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056244H), [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: [Blankenship John H FW2TDXLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=056244H), [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. - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Blankenship John H FW2TDXLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056244H), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Blankenship John H FW2TDXLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056244H), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N903AB-2018-09-14), registration cancelled 2018-09-14, S/N B12, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Capella Aircraft Corporation ( FW2TDXLS - Registry model: [Blankenship John H FW2TDXLS](https://openairdocs.org/model/blankenship-john-h-fw2tdxls) (registry code 056244H) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 2200](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-2200) (registry code 34800, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: B12 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 7.2 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20150930020639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150930020639A), Sep 30, 2015: Blankenship John H FW2TDXLS, Bartlesville, OK, Substantial damage. Aircraft took off on 35 departure, approxitly 60 degrees aircraft started turning left. Pilot applied rudder and aileron input, had no effect. Aircraft… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 22, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92112. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Owner) (item 1, .PDF, 834 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436848&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(Owner)-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 722 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436849&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436850&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-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.