# NTSB CHI91DEM04: Fred B. Stencel Falcon X P, N747AA, St. Charles, MI, April 18, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: April 18, 1991, 18:43 local (23:43 UTC)
- Place: St. Charles, MI
- Coordinates: 43.419403, -83.969398 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4194&lon=-83.9694&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14829
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91DEM04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14829/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91DEM04

## Probable cause

A RESULT OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND NOT MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE GO AROUND MANEUVER.  FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE AND FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE ACCIDENT PILOT RECENTLY PURCHASED THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE AND HAD ASSEMBLED IT ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT.  THE PILOT STATED HE 'WANTED TO ENSURE THAT THE MOTOR WAS IN WORKING ORDER AND THAT ALL THE MOVING PARTS WERE SECURELY ON.' HE STATED HE TAXIED UP AND DOWN A RUNWAY TWO TIMES AND, DURING THE THIRD TAXI RUN, THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE DUE TO GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS.  THE PILOT STATED HE MADE TWO UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO LAND.  DURING HIS THIRD LANDING ATTEMPT THE WIND BLEW THE AIRPLANE TOWARD TREES WHICH LINED THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT HE ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB OVER THE TREES.  DURING THIS MANEUVER THE PILOT STATED THE NOSEWHEEL STRUCK THE TREE TOPS AND THE AIRPLANE CRASHED.  THE PILOT STATED HE HAD NO INTENTION TO FLY BECAUSE HE HAD NOT RECEIVED A CHECKOUT IN THE AIRPLANE AND HE HASN'T 'HAD ANY EXPERIENCE LANDING' BY HIMSELF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N747AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N747AA-2013-09-12), registration cancelled 2013-09-12, S/N 600145, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FRED B. STENCEL FALCON X P
- Registry model: [Stencel Fred B FALCON-XP](https://openairdocs.org/model/stencel-fred-b-falcon-xp) (registry code 05658NA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 600145
- Engines: Rotax 08 50 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Dennis P. Tyrrell
- Registered owner: Dennis P. Tyrrell
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; student; medical: class 3, expired; flight hours: 26 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: MBS, 15 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 19910418011489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910418011489A), Apr 18, 1991: Amtrat FALCONXP, St Charles, MI, Destroyed. Inadvertently became airborne during fast taxi test. Wind blew homebuilt into trees while landing.

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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