# NTSB DEN99LA089: Dehaan Challenger II, N22FE, Douglas, WY, May 29, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 29, 1999, 09:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Douglas, WY - Location: 42.7548° N, 105.3978° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Douglas, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7548&lon=-105.3978&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 April 25, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46415 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN99LA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46415/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN99LA089 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft by not adequately correcting for torque/p-factor during initial climb following takeoff. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - torque/p-factor - not corrected, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - open field - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis During initial climb following takeoff from a private grass strip, the aircraft's left wing dropped to a bank angle of 10 to 15 degrees. The pilot added full right rudder, but was unable to level the wings. The aircraft continued in a climbing left turn for approximately 30 feet, then began to descend. The airplane struck the ground left wing tip first, followed by the nose and tail wheel. The aircraft continued rotating 270 degrees to the left, and came to rest on a heading of 050 in an open, grassy field. In a telephone interview with the pilot, he stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane, and that he did not sufficiently correct for the torque created during the takeoff at slow airspeed. ## Factual narrative On May 29, 1999, approximately 0915 mountain daylight time, a Dehaan Challenger II ultralight, N22FE, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged after impacting terrain during initial climb following takeoff from a private airstrip 27 miles north of Douglas, Wyoming. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant aboard, received minor injuries. No flight plan had been filed for the local area personal flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. According to the pilot, takeoff from runway 08's grass strip was normal. During initial climb, the left wing dropped to an angle of 10 to 15 degrees. The pilot added full right rudder, but was unable to level the wings. The aircraft continued in a climbing left turn for approximately 30 feet, then began to descend. The airplane struck the ground on a heading of 320 degrees left wing tip first, followed by the nose and tail wheel. The aircraft continued rotating to the left another 270 degrees, and came to rest on a heading of 050 in an open, grassy field. In a telephone interview with the pilot, he stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane, and that he did not sufficiently correct for the torque creating during the takeoff at slow airspeed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N22FE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N22FE), registered now, S/N 1163, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Dehaan CHALLENGER II (CHALLENGER) - Registry model: [Dehaan Lynn B CHALLENGER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehaan-lynn-b-challenger-ii) (registry code 056014G) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Ultralight, amateur-built - Serial number: 1163 - Airframe hours: 200 - Engines: Rotax 503 DC/DI 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Frank G. Eathorne - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 1999, 4 hours before - Departed: NONE, DOUGLAS, WY - Airport: runway 8, 2,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 2,274 total, 121 in this make and model, 1,855 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - 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 19990529005979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990529005979A), May 29, 1999: Amtr CHALLENGER2, Douglas, WY, Substantial damage. Acft went into a climbing lift bank after takeoff, pilot unable to correct the problem and flew to the ground. (-23) the a/c went into a climbing left bank… 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.