- Date
- March 5, 1994, 11:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Watertown, WI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N754RGCorby Starlet
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 12, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940305003799A
- Case key
- 9345
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-in-command's improper use of the elevator and his lack of familiarity with the aircraft.
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 was conducting the first flight in this home built airplane. He stated that he 'pulled back too FAR on the stick, apparently stalling the right wing...' On the initial takeoff. The airplane contacted the ground with the right wing first then cartwheeled.
Factual narrative
History of flight
March 5, 1994, about 1115 central standard time, a homebuilt Corby Starlet, N754RG, registered to and operated by Ronald J. Grosse of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the terrain on takeoff from runway 23 at Watertown Municipal Airport, Watertown, Wisconsin. The solo pilot received no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file.
The accident fight was the first flight for the amateur built airplane and was the first flight in this type of airplane for the pilot-in-command. The pilot stated, "I pulled back too far on the stick, apparently stalling the right wing at 20 feet."
Personal information
The pilot-in-command held a private pilot certificate with a single engine land rating. He had accumulated 225 hours total time and 0 (Zero) in this model airplane. He held a third class medical certificate with the date of the last examination of August 21, 1992.
Aircraft information
The airplane a Corby Starlet, serial number 01, registration number N754RG, was amateur built, and was issued a special airworthiness certificate in the Experimental category on August 4, 1993.
Wreckage and impact information
Ground impact scars indicate that initial impact was with the right wing tip and the airplane cartwheeled. The airplane ended up inverted. The wings broke off at the fuselage.
The pilot stated that there were no operational problems with the airplane.
The flight controls were intact and connected to the control system.
Additional information
The owner of the airplane retained possession of the wreckage and removed it from the accident site. The accident investigation was concluded on March 15, 1994.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N754RG
- Reported as
- Corby Starlet
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 01
- Engine
- Volkswagen 1641, 50 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Grosse, Ronald J.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Unknown · August 4, 1993 · 0 hours before
- Destination
- RYV
- Airport
- RYV · Watertown Municipal, runway 23, 4,200 × 75 ft, concrete
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
- 39
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 225 total · 150 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GRB, 85 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.