# NTSB CEN20CA177: M-Squared Sport 1000, N7013W, Little Falls, MN, May 5, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 5, 2020, 12:35 local (17:35 UTC) - Place: Little Falls, MN - Coordinates: 45.949443, -94.346946 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9494&lon=-94.3469&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101270 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA177 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101270/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101270 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA177 ## Probable cause The uncertificated pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff, which resulted in an impact with terrain. ## 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: [Degarmo Jim SPORT 1000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05605EH), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Degarmo Jim SPORT 1000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=05605EH), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/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 in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Degarmo Jim SPORT 1000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05605EH), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The uncertificated pilot stated that he replaced the wing and control surface skins of the airplane and planned to perform a test flight. He said that shortly after adding power, the airplane "jumped up" 15 ft off the ground and drifted away from the runway centerline. The pilot applied corrective control inputs to return the airplane back to runway centerline and then applied full engine power to initiate a go-around. About 100 ft agl, the airplane banked hard to the left. The pilot applied right aileron control input but was unable to reduce the bank. The airplane descended and impacted the ground about 200 yards from the end of the runway. The pilot stated that there were no engine-related mechanical anomalies. The flight controls were subject to impact damage; however, the damage was consistent with failures associated with overload due to ground impact and not a failure in flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7013W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7013W-2022-12-03), registration cancelled 2022-12-03, S/N 1003, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: M-SQUARED Sport 1000 - Registry model: [Degarmo Jim SPORT 1000](https://openairdocs.org/model/degarmo-jim-sport-1000) (registry code 05605EH) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1003 - Year built: 1997 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: LXL, Little Falls, MN - Destination: LXL, Little Falls, MN - Airport: LXL, Little Falls/Morrison County-L, runway 31, 4,010 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; seat: left; flight hours: 6.5 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: LXL ## 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 20200505003999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200505003999A), May 5, 2020: Degarmo Jim SPORT 1000, Little Falls, MN, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted to perform a test flight, pilot intended to fly 10-15 feet above the runway to observe the flight characteristic's of the aircraft after wing… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101270. 5.6 MB in all. - Record of conversation between NTSB iic and pilot (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10016417&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Converstation%20with%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Record of converstation between NTSB duty officer and pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10016589&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Little%20Falls,%20MN%20-%20N7013W%20accident%20--%20duty%20officer%20information-Rel.pdf - Police report (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 127 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10016005&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Police%20Investigative%20Report%2020002962_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of converstation between FAA and pilot (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10014995&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Telephone%20Log%20Signature-%20ECM-Rel.pdf - Post-accident airplane photos (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 262 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10015695&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airplane%20Photos-Rel.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.