- Date
- September 21, 1988, 16:55 local (21:55 UTC)
- Place
- Elkhart, IN
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- UNREGJones None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 16, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 13904
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
Inadequate aircraft design which resulted unacceptable aircraft takeoff and climb capability.
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
Aircraft was designed and built by the pilot involved in the accident. This was the first test flight. On first attempt to takeoff the aircraft got 12 to 18 inches off the ground. Pilot made some adjustments to aircraft and got airborne on second attempt. Aircraft climbed to an altitude of approximately 15 feet and struck lower telephone cable on utility poles one-quarter mile off departure end of runway.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Jones None
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Engine
- Rotax 532, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- John Edward Jones
- Departed
- 2C9 · Elkhart, IN
- Airport
- 2C9 · Midway, runway 9, 2,600 × 140 ft, grass/turf
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Center
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 500 total · 435 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- EKM, 6 nm away