- Date
- September 6, 2003, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Columbia, IL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N817CDDixon Glasair II
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA -- St. Louis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20030906036689A
- Case key
- 57986
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 failure to maintain directional control during an aborted takeoff. Contributing factors were the open cabin door, the grass runway and the soft terrain adjacent to the runway.
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 amateur-built airplane was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff when, under maximum braking, it veered off the runway, encountered soft terrain, and flipped over. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll the pilot side cabin door inadvertently opened. His attempt to secure the door was not successful and he initiated an aborted takeoff. According to the pilot's statement, the aircraft touched down in a "fast taxi roll" with very little runway remaining. He noted that when he applied maximum braking effort, the aircraft "veered off [the] runway" and encountered soft terrain. The nose gear and left main landing gear collapsed and the aircraft subsequently flipped over. The pilot stated that he verified the door was closed and latched as part of the before takeoff checklist procedure. Although the cabin door was damaged during the accident, the pilot reported there were no anomalies with the door latching mechanism consistent with a pre-impact failure.
Factual narrative
On September 6, 2003, at 1500 central daylight time, an amateur-built Dixon Glasair II, N817CD, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff on runway 3 (2,450 feet x 100 feet, turf) at the Sackman Field Airport (H49), Columbia, Illinois. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported minor injuries. The local flight was originating when the accident occurred.
In his written statement, the pilot reported that on the takeoff roll the aircraft initially lifted off, however, it settled back onto the runway momentarily. As the aircraft lifted off again, the pilot side cabin door inadvertently "flew open", according to the pilot. His attempt to secure the door was not successful and he initiated an aborted takeoff.
According to the pilot's statement, the aircraft touched down in a "fast taxi roll" with very little runway remaining. He noted that when he applied maximum braking effort, the aircraft "veered off [the] runway" and encountered soft terrain. The nose gear and left main landing gear collapsed and the aircraft subsequently flipped over.
The pilot stated that he verified the door was closed and latched as part of the before takeoff checklist procedure.
Although the cabin door was damaged during the accident, the pilot reported there were no anomalies with the door latching mechanism consistent with a pre-impact failure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N817CD
- Reported as
- Dixon Glasair II
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 230
- Airframe hours
- 691
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · January 1, 2003 · 51 hours before
- Departed
- H49 · Columbia, IL
- Airport
- H49 · Columbia, runway 3, 2,450 × 150 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
- 53
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- August 19, 2003
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 503 total · 33 in this make and model · 427 as pilot in command · 55 in the last 90 days · 22 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.11 inHg
- Observed at
- CPS, 8 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 8, 2004, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 389 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.