- Date
- May 25, 2002, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place
- Derby, KS
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2188XRose 75% Scale Fokker D8
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 16, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA
- Case key
- 54768
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
Inadequate preflight planning and inadequate compensation for the wind conditions which resulted in a failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors associated with the accident were the crosswind and the trees which the airplane contacted during the takeoff.
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 contacted trees following a loss of directional control during takeoff. The pilot reported he was short on runway when he initiated the takeoff so he had to "prematurely pull the aircraft off the ground... ." The pilot stated that once airborne the wind pushed the airplane toward a line of trees. He reported that he attempted to straighten the airplane heading, but instead the airplane hit the trees at an altitude of about 10 feet above the ground. The airplane contacted trees along the right side of the runway. The pilot reported the winds were out of the west at 15 knots. The pilot reported that the ailerons are ineffective until reaching 60 mph. He also reported that the rudder was so sensitive that at 50 mph, 1- inch of rudder pedal displacement would result in a 180 degree flat turn.
Factual narrative
On May 25, 2002, at 1345 central daylight time, a 75% Scale Fokker D8, N2188X, collided with trees during takeoff on runway 35 (2,500 feet by 50 feet, grass) at the Hamilton Field, Derby, Kansas. The private pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot reported that his original intention was to perform a high speed taxi test after which he was going to return to the hangar. He reported the airplane ran good during the test. Following the taxi test, he then pulled the power back to idle, but instead of going to the hangar, he decided to takeoff, fly around the traffic pattern, and land. The pilot stated that he was short on runway when he initiated the takeoff, so he had to "prematurely pull the aircraft off the ground... ." The pilot stated that once airborne the wind pushed the airplane toward a line of trees. He reported that he attempted to straighten the airplane heading, but instead the airplane hit the trees at an altitude of about 10 feet above the ground.
The pilot reported, "This aircraft stalls at 45 mph and ailerons are ineffective until 60 mph, rudder is so sensitive at 50 mph, 1 inch of rudder pedal travel will cost 180 degree flat turn, so you have to be very careful with the use of it close to the ground."
The airplane contacted trees along the right side of the runway. The pilot reported the winds were out of the west at 15 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2188X
- Reported as
- Rose 75% Scale Fokker D8
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- ERR1
- Airframe hours
- 23
- Engine
- Volkswagen 1915CC, 70 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Emel R. Rose
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 20, 2002 · 0 hours before
- Departed
- 1K3 · Derby, KS
- Airport
- 1K3 · Hamilton Field, runway 35, 2,500 × 35 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
- 57
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Expired
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 636 total · 20 in this make and model · 542 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2002, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 334 KB in all.