CHI00LA192

NTSB accident investigation · Creed Lancair 235 · Hot Springs, SD · July 4, 2000

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 4, 2000, 08:10 local (14:10 UTC)
Place
Hot Springs, SD
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N235RCCreed Lancair 235
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 6, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
20000704036819A
Case key
51065

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 failure of the pilot to select the correct runway for takeoff. Factors to the accident were the inadequate preflight planning/preparation, the aborted takeoff not performed, and the tailwind.

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.

OverrunTakeoff - aborted
Weather condition - tailwindFactor
Preflight planning/preparation - inadequatePilot in commandFactor
Wrong runway - selectedPilot in commandCause
Aborted takeoff - not performedPilot in commandFactor
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterTakeoff - aborted

Analysis

The pilot was attempting to depart on runway 19, and the aircraft failed to achieve flight. The aircraft was substantially damaged when it overran the end of the runway. The pilot received two weather briefings in the 70 minutes prior to the attempted takeoff. According to a written statement by the pilot, he 'departed runway 19. Aircraft never developed lift and overran runway end. Wind had shifted 180 degrees in 20-30 minutes and pilot did not re-check wind before takeoff.' Winds were reported as 010 at 16 knots 75 minutes prior to the accident, 040 at 9 knots gusting 17 knots 15 minutes prior to the accident, and 340 at 8 knots 45 minutes after the accident. Density altitude was 4,613 feet at the airport at the time of the accident. There is a windsock directly across the runway from the parking ramp.

Factual narrative

On July 4, 2000, at 0810 mountain daylight time, an amateur built, Creed Lancair 235, N235RC, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when the aircraft departed runway 19 (4,505 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) during an aborted takeoff at the Hot Springs Municipal Airport (HSR), Hot Springs, South Dakota. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and single passenger reported no injuries. The flight was departing the Hot Springs Airport at the time of the accident with an intended destination of Huron, South Dakota.

In a written statement the pilot indicated that the winds at takeoff were 360 at 8 knots. He indicated that he received two separated weather briefings, one at one hour ten minutes before the flight and the other one ten minutes prior to the flight. He stated that he observed other pilots using runway 19, and subsequently taxied to runway 19. He "departed runway 19. Aircraft never developed lift and overran runway end. Wind had shifted 180 degrees in 20-30 minutes and pilot did not re-check wind before takeoff."

Weather readings were taken at the Rapid City Regional Airport, Rapid City, South Dakota, located 50 miles from HSR on a 020-degree magnetic bearing. Winds reported at 0555 local were 010 degrees at 5 knots. Winds reported at 0655 local were 010 at 16 knots. Winds reported at 0755, 15 mintes prior to the accident were 040 at 9 knots gusting to 17 knots. Winds reported at 0855, 45 minutes after the accident, were 340 at 8 knots.

Temperature 15 minutes prior to the accident was 20 degrees C, with an altimeter reading of 29.87. The field elevation of HSR is 3,202 feet. The density altitude was 4,613 feet.

HSR has a windsock that is located directly across the runway from the parking ramp.

Aircraft

Registration
N235RC
Reported as
Creed Lancair 235 (LANCAIR 23)
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
215
Airframe hours
88
Engine
Lycoming O-320-D2B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
John G Doleman
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · January 5, 2000 · 34 hours before
Departed
HSR
Destination
HON · Huron, SD
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
HSR · Hot Springs Minucipal, runway 19, 4,505 × 100 ft, asphalt

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
60
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
600 total · 38 in this make and model · 600 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
40° at 9 knots, gusting 17
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
70 °F, dew point 61 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
RAP, 50 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.