- Date
- June 8, 2000, 21:00 local (Jun 9, 2000, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Hartford, MI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3148EEdgerly S-12
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 17, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000608037079A
- Case key
- 49429
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
restricted directional control. Factors relating to this accident were the rough, uneven runway, and the trees.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot said that during takeoff from a private airstrip, the airplane 'hit 3 bumps in the runway causing the nose gear to jam to the right, holding it in [an] unrecoverable slip condition [and], not allowing the aircraft to climb or turn left.' The pilot said that the left wing hit trees causing the airplane to flip over on to its back. Examination of the wreckage showed the airplane's nose wheel deflected and stuck to the right. Examination of the remaining airplane systems revealed no anomalies.
Factual narrative
On June 8, 2000, at 2100 eastern daylight time, an Edgerly Rans S-12, homebuilt airplane, N3148E, operated by a student pilot, sustained substantial damage when on takeoff from a grass airstrip near Hartford, Michigan, the airplane entered an uncommanded right turn, struck a tree and subsequently impacted the ground. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The student pilot reported no injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
In his written statement, the pilot said that during takeoff from a private airstrip, the airplane "hit 3 bumps in the runway causing the nose gear to jam to the right, holding it in [an] unrecoverable slip condition [and], not allowing the aircraft to climb or turn left." The pilot said that the left wing hit trees, causing the airplane to flip over on to its back.
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane at the accident location. The airplane was found resting on its back. Its left wing was broken aft. The airplane's nose wheel was deflected and stuck in a right turn. Examination of the airplane's engine, engine controls, and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3148E
- Reported as
- Edgerly S-12
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 05960726
- Airframe hours
- 186
- Engine
- Rotax 503-DLD1, 52 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James A. Edgerly
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 14, 2000 · 20 hours before
- Airport
- Private Airstrip
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
- 62
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 20 total · 14 in this make and model · 8 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AZO, 28 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.