# NTSB CHI08CA205: Howell FW2C80TR, N92FW, Washington, IA, July 23, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 23, 2008, 17:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place: Washington, IA
- Coordinates: 41.282501, -91.67778
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2825&lon=-91.6778&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68706
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA205
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68706/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA205

## Probable cause

The low airspeed and proper climb rate not attained by the pilot during takeoff and the inadvertent stall by the pilot.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Howell J Reid FW2C80TR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05620LM), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Howell J Reid FW2C80TR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05620LM), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Howell J Reid FW2C80TR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05620LM), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The airplane departed from runway 18 (4,000 feet by 75 feet, concrete) for a local flight.  During takeoff, about 30 feet above the ground, the airplane yawed to the right and into a cornfield, damaging the left wing. The pilot stated that the airplane may have stalled. The pilot was uninjured and the passenger received minor injuries. The pilot, who "normally" flies solo, stated that the aircraft was too heavy and that he should have lifted off with a higher ground speed.

## Factual narrative

The airplane departed from runway 18 (4,000 feet by 75 feet, concrete) for a local flight.  About 30 feet above the ground during the takeoff, the airplane yawed to the right and into a cornfield, damaging the left wing. The pilot stated that the airplane may have stalled. The pilot was uninjured and the passenger received minor injuries. The pilot, who "normally" flies solo, stated that the takeoff was too heavy and that he should have lifted off with a higher ground speed.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N92FW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N92FW), registered now, S/N FW2C80TR0116191 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Howell FW2C80TR
- Registry model: [Howell J Reid FW2C80TR](https://openairdocs.org/model/howell-j-reid-fw2c80tr) (registry code 05620LM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: FW2C80TR0116191
- Engines: Rotax 912 UL reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Pilot
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: AMG, Washington, IA
- Destination: AWG, Washington, IA
- Airport: AWG, Washington Muni, runway 18

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 327 total, 16 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

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.

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