- Date
- February 23, 2008, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Lakeville, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N215LYRans S-4 Coyote I
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20080223832459A
- Case key
- 67624
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 and his inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions. Factors included the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model of the airplane and the crosswind gust.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he intended to takeoff in the tai wheel-equipped airplane from runway 12 and remain in the traffic pattern. During the takeoff roll, the pilot put in full right aileron and held the elevator at a neutral position. He reported that he positioned the rudder "to maintain course on the longitudinal axis of the runway." He reported that during takeoff rotation, the airplane encountered a 5 - 7 knot right crosswind gust of wind which lifted the right wing up about 45 - 60 degrees in less than 1 second. The airplane veered to the left 45 degrees. The pilot reported that he attempted to use elevator and rudder inputs, but they "produced little or no response." The airplane veered further left, lost altitude, and impacted terrain. The right main landing gear collapsed and the tailwheel tail spring was bent left, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot indicated that he had a total of 190 flight hours with 1 hour in make and model. The pilot reported there was no mechanical malfunction or failure.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he intended to takeoff in the tail wheel equipped airplane from runway 12 and remain in the traffic pattern. During the takeoff roll, the pilot put in full right aileron and held the elevator at a neutral position. He reported that he positioned the rudder "to maintain course on the longitudinal axis of the runway." He reported that during takeoff rotation, the airplane encountered a 5 - 7 knot right crosswind gust of wind which lifted the right wing up about 45 - 60 degrees in less than 1 second. The airplane veered to the left 45 degrees. The pilot reported that he attempted to use elevator and rudder inputs, but they "produced little or no response." The airplane veered further left, lost altitude, and impacted terrain. The right main landing gear collapsed and the tail wheel tail spring was bent left, which resulted in substantial damage. The pilot indicated that he had a total of 190 flight hours with 1 hour in make and model. The pilot reported there was no mechanical malfunction or failure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N215LY
- Reported as
- Rans S-4 Coyote I
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 00299
- Engine
- Rotax 503 DCDI, 52 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James W. Barker
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Departed
- LVN · Lakeville, MN
- Airport
- LVN · Airlake Airport, runway 12
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
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Medical
- Class 3
- Flight hours
- 190 total · 1 in this make and model · 190 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.