# NTSB CHI97LA202: Niquette Pietenpol GN-1, N46844, Lake Village, IN, July 5, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 5, 1997, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Lake Village, IN - Location: 41.1500° N, 87.4625° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LAKE VILLAGE (C98), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1500&lon=-87.4625&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10623 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA202 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10623/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA202 ## Probable cause the pilot's inability to maintain sufficient airspeed and climb. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - climb - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,main gear - overload - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis After flying locally for 15 minutes, checking wind conditions, and boarding a passenger, the pilot departed for a local flight. Full power was achieved and takeoff was initiated. On climb-out, after establishing a positive rate of climb and reaching an altitude of 50 to 60 feet the pilot was unable to sustain sufficient airspeed. A hard landing in the overrun of the runway resulted in the right main gear collapsing and the airplane nosing over. Postinspection revealed no anomalies with the aircraft prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 5, 1997, at 1730 central standard time, a Niquette Pietenpol GN-1, N46844, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when the gear collapsed during a forced landing at the Lake Village Airport, Lake Village, Indiana. The local, personal, 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and one passenger reported minor injuries. After flying the aircraft solo, locally for 15 minutes, the pilot reported he returned to the Lake Village Airport and the owner boarded the front seat. The pilot reported doing a pre-takeoff check and said he visually "checked the wind indicators; a windsock, a wind tee, an American flag, and tree leaves all indicated light, variable, generally westerly winds." They began their take off, established an airspeed of 55 miles per hour and a positive rate of climb, but after attaining an altitude of approximately 50 to 60 feet the pilot reported the aircraft stopped climbing and began to settle. There is a stand of trees approximately 50 feet tall to the left of runway 36. The pilot indicated they were approximately 10 feet above the tree tops when the aircraft began to lose altitude. The pilot said he "pushed the nose down to maintain airspeed," but the aircraft continued to lose altitude. Both the pilot and the passenger (aircraft owner) reported the engine was functioning properly at full throttle. The pilot stated when he realized they could not maintain flight he decided to attempt to land the aircraft in the overrun of runway 36. As they came down in the overrun area he attempted to flare for landing, but the "aircraft did not seem to have enough airspeed to flare." The airplane landed hard in a level attitude. The right main gear failed at the attach point. The propeller cut into the ground stopping forward movement, flipping the aircraft inverted. Approximately 6 inches of the propeller tips broke off and the propeller splintered. The vertical stabilizer leading edge shattered and the stabilizer broke and folded over mid height. The upper wing center supports collapsed. Post examination by the South Bend, Indiana FSDO confirmed flight and engine control continuity. Fuel was drained and found to be clear and free of contaminants with sufficient fuel on board for the intended flight. The engine intake had separated from the engine during ground impact. There was fuel in the carburetor and the accelerator pump was functional. Compression was confirmed on each cylinder and the spark plug's condition were normal. Valve train operation was verified and the magnetos were functional. Weight and balance data for the aircraft configuration at the time of the accident was reviewed with no inconsistencies noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N46844](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46844-2013-04-02), registration cancelled 2013-04-02, S/N 118, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Niquette PIETENPOL GN-1 (PIETENPOL) - Registry model: [Niquette PIETENPOL-GREGA](https://openairdocs.org/model/niquette-pietenpol-grega) (registry code 7040217) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 118 - Airframe hours: 800 - Engines: Continental A-65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: George Wolotka - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 1996, 17 hours before - Departed: C98 - Airport: C98, Lake Village, runway 36, 2,480 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 600 total, 500 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F ## 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 19970705016859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970705016859A), Jul 5, 1997: Amtr PIETENPOL, Lake Village, IN, Substantial damage. Failed normal climb on takeoff. Settled. Aborted. High sink and impact on runway drove gear into cockpit. Flipped. ## Other investigations on N46844 (1) 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. - [NTSB MKC84LA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC84LA145), May 23, 1984: Pietenpol-Grega GN1 (N46844), Warrensburg, MO, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.