- Date
- August 11, 1991, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Milaca, MN
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N327DMMilner, Dick G Glasair II
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910811033039A
- Case key
- 14860
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 aircraft control during takeoff and departure which resulted in a dragged wing and ground impact. Related factors are the rough airstrip, the pilot's lack of expereince in the type of operation, and the premature lift-off.
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
The pilot stated he allowed the airplane to lift off the grass runway prematurely, planning to hold it in ground effect and accelerate. Witnesses observed the airplane as it bounced and swerved before becoming airborne. They reported the airplane climbed to about 25 feet above the ground and banked left. The left wing tip struck the grass and the airplane departed the left side of the grass strip. The airplane came to rest in some bushy trees and caught fire. The pilot had about 40 hours in the newly certificated experimental aircraft. It was the pilot's first operation on a sod strip in the accident aircraft. The pilot stated the airstrip was bumpy.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N327DM
- Reported as
- Milner, Dick G Glasair II
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 327
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Dick Gerboth Milner
- Registered owner
- Dick Gerboth Milner
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Destination
- D36 · Duluth, MN
- Airport
- 18Y · Milaca, Muni, runway 34, 2,900 × 150 ft, grass/turf
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
- 67
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,880 total · 45 in this make and model · 2,840 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- STC, 25 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.