- Date
- August 5, 2000, 06:50 local (11:50 UTC)
- Place
- Springfield, MO
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N619TThompson Avid Mark IV
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 2, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000805015289A
- Case key
- 49915
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 pilot's inadequate preflight planning, his failure to abort the takeoff, and the inadequate airspeed. Factors included the tall runway grass, the quartering tailwind, 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 airplane departed on runway 06 (2640 X 70 feet). The pilot reported the grass on the runway was taller than normal, and that a tailwind existed at the time of takeoff. The pilot reported the takeoff roll was longer than normal and he was about to abort the takeoff when the airplane became airborne. The pilot reported he avoided a 60 foot tree at the end of the runway but was unable to gain airspeed. He reported he turned to the north but the airplane lost altitude and impacted into a hedgerow of shrubs. The pilot reported there was nothing wrong with the airplane and that the engine was producing about 6,100 rpm's. He reported the airplane could not fly out of the tailwind and that it flew into a stall.
Factual narrative
On August 5, 2000, at 0650 central daylight time, an experimental Thompson Avid Mark IV, N619T, was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground during takeoff climb. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was departing the Flying Bar H Ranch, a private grass airstrip (2640 X 70 feet), with Gastons (3M0), Arkansas, as the destination. The airplane departed on runway 06. The pilot reported the grass on the runway was taller than normal, and that a tailwind existed at the time of takeoff. The pilot reported the takeoff roll was longer than normal and he was about to abort the takeoff when the airplane became airborne. The pilot reported he avoided a 60 foot tree at the end of the runway but was unable to gain airspeed. He reported he turned to the north but the airplane lost altitude and impacted into a hedgerow of shrubs. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported there was nothing wrong with the airplane and that the engine was producing about 6,100 rpm's. He reported the airplane could not fly out of the tailwind and that it flew into a stall.
The 0654 surface observation at Springfield Regional Airport located 12 miles from the accident site reported winds at 180 degrees at 9 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N619T
- Reported as
- Thompson Avid Mark IV (AVID MARK)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 968
- Airframe hours
- 163
- Engine
- Rotax 582, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Steve Thompson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 15, 2000 · 35 hours before
- Departed
- MO42
- Destination
- 3M0 · Gastons, AK
- Airport
- MO42 · Flying Bar H, runway 6, 2,640 × 70 ft, grass/turf
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
- 51
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 500 total · 163 in this make and model · 500 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 163 °F, dew point 156 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SGF, 12 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.