# NTSB CHI98LA211: Hartzler Nieuport 11, N921DH, Gardner, KS, June 21, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 20, 1998, 19:30 local (Jun 21, 1998, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Gardner, KS - Coordinates: 38.809574, -94.920486 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8096&lon=-94.9205&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10925 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA211 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10925/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA211 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation and the aircraft stall. A factor to the accident was the gusting wind. ## 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 - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - stall - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb ## Analysis The pilot was going to fly one more flight around the traffic pattern for some individuals to take photographs of his aircraft. The pilot stated that there was a dark storm cell approximately 3 statute miles north of the airport moving to the east. The pilot stated that after the aircraft rotated the normal climb speed of 55 mph seemed to diminish rapidly at 8 to 10 feet agl. The pilot stated that his back stick pressure produced a stall, followed by an uncontrollable sink that resulted in the aircraft impacting on the right side of the runway 17. Witnesses to the accident stated that the wind sock was limp at the start of the takeoff roll, but indicated strong gusting winds as the pilot rotated. Post accident investigation showed that there was thunderstorm activity in the area at the time the accident. There were reports of high, gusting, winds in the area at the time of the accident. Subsequent to the accident, the pilot stated in a interview with a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector that he had made a poor decision by taking off with the approaching thunderstorm in the area. ## Factual narrative On June 20, 1998, at 1930 central daylight time, a Hartzler Nieuport 11, N921DH, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the terrain, following a loss of control during takeoff from runway 17 at the Gardner Municipal Airport, near Gardner, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot's written statement, he was going to fly one more flight around the traffic pattern for some individuals to take photographs of his aircraft. The pilot stated that there was a dark storm cell approximately 3 statute miles north of the airport which moving to the east. The pilot stated that after the aircraft rotated the normal climb speed of 55 mph seemed to diminish rapidly upon reaching and altitude of 8 to 10 feet above ground level. The pilot stated that his back "stick pressure produced a stall", followed by an uncontrollable sink that resulted in the aircraft impacting on the right side of the runway 17. Witnesses to the accident stated that the wind sock was limp at the start of the takeoff roll, but indicated strong gusting winds as the pilot rotated. Post accident investigation showed that there was thunderstorm activity in the area. There were reports of high, gusting, winds in the area at the time of the accident. Subsequent to the accident, the pilot stated in a interview with a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector that he had made a poor decision by taking off with the approaching thunderstorm in the area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N921DH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N921DH), registered now, S/N 00736, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hartzler NIEUPORT 11 (NIEUPORT 1) - Registry model: [Hartzler Richard B NIEUPORT II](https://openairdocs.org/model/hartzler-richard-b-nieuport-ii) (registry code 0564037) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 00736 - Airframe hours: 13 - Engines: Volkswagen 1600 CC 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard B. Hartzler - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 17, 1997, 13 hours before - Departed: K34 - Airport: K34, Gardner Municipal Airport, runway 17, 3,240 × 110 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 508 total, 13 in this make and model, 450 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 30° at 7 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,100 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: IXD, 4 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 19980620014489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980620014489A), Jun 20, 1998: Amtr NIEUPORTII, Gardner, KS, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot was going to fly one more flight around the traffic pattern for some individuals to take photographs of his aircraft. The pilot stated that there… 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.