# NTSB CHI07CA217: Chrapczynski M1 Midget Mustang, N804DC, Elyria, OH, July 16, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 16, 2007, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Elyria, OH - Coordinates: 41.344165, -82.177497 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3442&lon=-82.1775&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Cleveland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66492 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07CA217 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66492/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA217 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain proper glide speed during the forced landing after takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush condition and a hard landing. A contributing factor was the loss of engine power after takeoff for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - Hard landing, emergency landing after takeoff - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - grass - Gear collapsed, emergency landing after takeoff - landing gear - overload (contributing factor) ## Analysis The experimental airplane was substantially damaged during a hard landing following a loss of engine power after takeoff on runway 25 (5,002 feet by 100 feet, dry asphalt). The accident occurred during the first flight of the amateur-built airplane. The pilot stated that he had conducted over 4 hours of ground and taxi testing prior to the first flight. He noted that immediately prior to the accident takeoff he conducted a "high speed taxi run" and observed no problems with the engine. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll the airplane accelerated to approximately 75 mph and lifted off "normally". He stated: "Within seconds after liftoff, the engine began "sputtering and slowing down." The "sputtering increased in intensity" and the pilot "realized that flight could no longer be maintained." He elected to execute an emergency landing in the grass area adjacent to the runway. He extended his glide in order to insure clearance to people located on the parallel taxiway positioned to assist in the event of an emergency. As result of the extended glide, the airspeed decayed and the airplane was "practically on a stall." He noted that the landing gear collapsed due to the resulting "rough landing" and the airplane subsequently "skidded to a halt" in the grass area near midfield. No anomalies consistent with a significant loss of engine power were found. ## Factual narrative The experimental airplane was substantially damaged during a hard landing following a loss of engine power after takeoff on runway 25 (5,002 feet by 100 feet, dry asphalt). The accident occurred during the first flight of the amateur-built airplane. The pilot stated he had conducted over 4 hours of ground and taxi testing prior to the first flight. He noted that immediately prior to the accident takeoff he conducted a "high speed taxi run" and observed no problems with the engine. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll the airplane accelerated to approximately 75 mph and lifted off "normally". He stated: "Within seconds of liftoff, the engine began "sputtering and slowing down." The "sputtering increased in intensity" and the pilot "realized that flight could no longer be maintained." He elected to execute an emergency landing in the grass area adjacent to the runway. He extended his glide in order to insure clearance to people located on the parallel taxiway positioned to assist in the event of an emergency. As result of the extended glide, the airspeed decayed and the airplane was "practically on a stall." He noted that the landing gear collapsed due to the resulting "rough landing" and the airplane subsequently "skidded to a halt" in the grass area near midfield. A post accident inspection did not reveal any anomalies associated with a significant loss of engine power. The engine had accumulated approximately 500 hours since overhaul. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N804DC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N804DC), registered now, S/N 1054, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Chrapczynski M1 Midget Mustang - Registry model: [Chrapczynski Daniel T M1 MIDGET MUSTANG](https://openairdocs.org/model/chrapczynski-daniel-t-m1-midget-mustang) (registry code 05618QN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1054 - Airframe hours: 0 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 1, 2007, 0 hours before - Departed: LPR, Elyria, OH - Airport: LPR, Lorain County Regional Airport, runway 25, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2007; seat: single; flight hours: 616 total, 0 in this make and model, 470 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LPR ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20070716019289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070716019289A), Jul 16, 2007: Amtr MUSTANGMIDGT, Lorain/Elyria, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) On the initial test flight the pilot stated that at liftoff (on runway 25) at klpr, the engine sputtered and lost power. The pilot stated he decided to… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.