- Date
- February 23, 2008, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Buena Vista, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N53041Hardy Midget Mustang M-1
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 28, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20080223011559A
- Case key
- 67617
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 directional control. Contributing to the accident was the gusty crosswind.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot said he started his takeoff roll on runway 33. When he reached 50 mph, he pushed the control forward stick to raise the tail. The airplane immediately swerved to the left and he corrected with right rudder. The airplane struck a snow bank along the right side of the runway and was substantially damaged. Recorded winds were from 270 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot had recently modified the airplane by repositioning the main landing gear.
Factual narrative
On February 23, 2008, approximately 1030 mountain standard time, a Hardy Midget Mustang M-1, N53041, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when the pilot lost control and the airplane struck a snow bank on takeoff at Central Colorado Regional Airport (AEJ), Buena Vista, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was not injured. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
In a telephone interview with the pilot shortly after the accident, he said he started his takeoff roll on runway 33. When he reached 50 mph, he pushed the control forward stick to raise the tail. The airplane swerved to the left and the pilot corrected with right rudder. The airplane struck a snow bank along the right side of the runway, bounced over it, and came to rest facing south. Winds recorded by the AEJ Automated Weather Observation Station (AWOS) were from 270 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot's accident report reflected this statement. He reported no flight control anomalies.
Post-accident examination revealed the fuselage was buckled and the left main landing gear was bent aft, buckling the left wing.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N53041
- Reported as
- Hardy Midget Mustang M-1
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 499
- Airframe hours
- 12
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Larry A. Hardy
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 2007 · 12 hours before
- Departed
- AEJ · Buena Vista, CO
- Destination
- AEJ
- Airport
- AEJ · Central Colorado Regional, runway 33, 8,300 × 75 ft
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
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 700 total · 12 in this make and model · 700 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.