- Date
- July 18, 1999, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place
- Buena Vista, CO
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N6577CRader Long EZ
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 12, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990718043809A
- Case key
- 46844
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 control of the airplane. Factors were his unfamiliarity with the airplane, and the soft terrain that caused the airplane to nose over.
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
This was to be the pilot's first solo flight in the airplane, and he intended to practice takeoffs and landings. He began his takeoff roll on runway 33. When the airplane reached 60 knots, it 'suddenly and unexpectedly' became airborne (rotation speed was said to be 70 to 75 knots). The airplane dropped back onto the runway, bounced, and became airborne again. The pilot said he then lost control of the airplane. It struck a dirt median and nosed over.
Factual narrative
On July 18, 1999, approximately 1545 mountain daylight time, a Rader Long EZ, N6577C, owned and operated by the pilot, was destroyed when it collided with terrain while taking off at Buena Vista, Colorado. The private pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to the pilot's accident report, this was to be his first solo flight in the airplane, and he intended to practice takeoffs and landings. He began his takeoff roll on runway 33. When the airplane reached 60 knots, it "suddenly and unexpectedly" became airborne (rotation speed was said to be 70 to 75 knots). The airplane dropped back onto the runway, bounced, and became airborne again. The pilot said he then lost control of the airplane. It struck a dirt median and nosed over.
The paramedic who treated the pilot said the pilot told him he "overcontrolled" the takeoff. The airplane climbed about 10 feet, then landed hard and bounced once on the runway. It then touched down in soft dirt and nosed over.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6577C
- Reported as
- Rader Long EZ
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1537-L
- Airframe hours
- 569
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 118 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Raymond D. & Ann D. Bishop
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 11, 1999 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- 7V1
- Airport
- 7V1 · Buena Vista Municipal, runway 33, 8,300 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 55
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 208 total · 3 in this make and model · 137 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 8 knots, gusting 13
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 7,500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- 7V1
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.