# NTSB CEN23LA013: Pober Pixie, N872UE, Sterling, CO, October 11, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 11, 2022, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Sterling, CO · 3 miles west of Sterling, Colorado
- Coordinates: 40.361562, -103.15554 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3616&lon=-103.1555&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106122
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA013
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106122/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106122
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA013

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control during the takeoff with strong gusty surface wind.

## Findings

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

- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Evans James Jay POBER PIXIE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05638QS), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Evans James Jay POBER PIXIE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05638QS), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Evans James Jay POBER PIXIE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05638QS), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Initial climb: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Evans James Jay POBER PIXIE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05638QS), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Evans James Jay POBER PIXIE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05638QS), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Evans James Jay POBER PIXIE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05638QS), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Evans James Jay POBER PIXIE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05638QS), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he had just purchased the airplane. During the second takeoff the airplane encountered a “violent variable wind gust”; the left wing rose unexpectedly, and the airplane stalled. The pilot reported that there was not enough altitude to recover and the airplane impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of takeoff, wind was reported as 250° at 23 knots, gusting to 30 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N872UE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N872UE-2023-06-26), registration cancelled 2023-06-26, S/N 001, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Pober Pixie
- Registry model: [Evans James Jay POBER PIXIE](https://openairdocs.org/model/evans-james-jay-pober-pixie) (registry code 05638QS) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Volkswagen 1800 CC SERIE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-1800-cc-serie) (registry code 63506, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Year built: 2019
- Airframe hours: 5
- Engines: Volkswagen Pober Pixie 1835 60 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Condition, October 9, 2022
- Destination: 5KS8, Mc Donald, KS
- Airport: KSTK, Sterling Airport, runway 33/15, 5,201 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; last flight review March 13, 2022; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,400 total, 1 in this make and model, 1,348 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 23 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observed at: KSTK
- METAR: 	
METAR KSTK 111655Z AUTO 25023G30KT 10SM CLR 25/M02 A2981

## 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 20221011016699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221011016699A), Oct 11, 2022: Pober Pixi, Sterling, CO, Substantial damage. On climbout after takeoff, at approximatly 600 feet, the aircraft was observed to have pitched up sightly, rolled right, and stalled. Aircraft imapacted the…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 12, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106122. 17.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 14.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14934210&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20Photos%20Pilot%20_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14933489&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Aircraft%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14836483&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20Record%20-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.

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