# NTSB CHI07LA302: Siebert RV-9A, N3653, Barton City, MI, September 20, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 20, 2007, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Barton City, MI - Coordinates: 44.6713888888889, -83.5852777777778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6714&lon=-83.5853&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Grand Rapids FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66993 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07LA302 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66993/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07LA302 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and aircraft control during initial climb after takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the gusting wind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - encountered - altitude - low - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane departed to the northwest from a private grass airstrip situated behind the pilot's residence. The passenger reported that shortly after takeoff the airplane encountered a large wind gust that pushed the airplane to the left (southwest). After encountering a second wind gust, the airplane banked sharply and then descended vertically into trees and terrain. The passenger recalled that the airstrip's windsock did not indicate that there was significant wind prior to the accident flight. The pilot had no recollection of the accident flight. A weather observation station located about 16 nm south-southeast of the accident site reported the wind was from the east at 5 knots with no gusts. Another weather observation station located about 23 nm west of the accident site reported the wind was from the west-southwest at 4 knots, gusting to 10 knots. ## Factual narrative On September 20, 2007, around 1600 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Siebert RV-9A, N3653, owned and piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from a private airstrip near Barton City, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The airplane departed to the northwest from a private grass airstrip situated behind the pilot's residence. The northwest/southeast airstrip was about 1,160 feet long. The passenger reported that shortly after takeoff the airplane encountered a large wind gust that pushed the airplane to the left (southwest). After encountering a second wind gust, the airplane banked sharply and then descended vertically into trees and terrain. The passenger recalled that the airstrip's windsock did not indicate that there was significant wind prior to the accident flight. The pilot had no recollection of the accident flight. A weather observation station located about 16 nm south-southeast of the accident site reported the wind was from the east at 5 knots with no gusts. Another weather observation station located about 23 nm west of the accident site reported the wind was from the west-southwest at 4 knots, gusting to 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3653](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3653-2013-04-25), registration cancelled 2013-04-25, S/N 90209, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Siebert RV-9A - Registry model: [Siebert James A RV-9A](https://openairdocs.org/model/siebert-james-a-rv-9a) (registry code 05619KC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-E2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-e2a) (registry code 42120, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 90209 - Airframe hours: 86 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 1, 2007, 86 hours before - Departed: PVT, Barton City, MI - Destination: PVT, Barton City, MI - Airport: PVT, Private Airstrip, runway 31, 1,161 × ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 144 total, 86 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: OSC, 16 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20070920021889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070920021889A), Sep 20, 2007: Amtr RV9A, Barton City, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot while taking his son for a ride in the RV9A he built, lost control due to possible turbulence after take off on private airstrip located at… 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.