# NTSB DFW08CA185: Stits SA3A, N134JW, St Louis, MO, July 14, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 14, 2008, 12:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: St Louis, MO - Coordinates: 38.726665, -90.508056 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7267&lon=-90.5081&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: St Louis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68443 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA185 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68443/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA185 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Stits SA3A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=86502J3), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Stits SA3A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=86502J3), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The 2,500 hour private pilot was conducting a normal takeoff in a single seat amateur built airplane from the dry 3,120 foot long turf runway and reported that he lost control of the airplane and was unable to climb out of ground effect. The left wing and the nose of the airplane struck the ground, and airplane landed upright. There was substantial damage to the forward firewall, engine mounts, landing gear, and left wing, but only minor injuries to the pilot. The pilot reported he had owned the airplane for 18 years and there was nothing wrong with the engine or with the performance of the airplane. He said he was "just too far behind" the airplane and it "got away" from him because it was "so quick and difficult to control". Weather reported at the time of the accident was 10 miles visibility, with few clouds at 5,000 feet, westerly winds at 5 knots, with a temperature of 87 degrees and dew point of 57degrees. ## Factual narrative The 2,500 hour private pilot was conducting a normal takeoff in a single seat amateur built airplane from the dry 3,120 foot long turf runway and reported that he lost control of the airplane and was unable to climb out of ground effect. The left wing and the nose of the airplane struck the ground, and airplane landed upright. There was substantial damage to the forward firewall, engine mounts, landing gear, and left wing, but only minor injuries to the pilot. The 77 year old pilot reported he had owned the airplane for 18 years and there was nothing wrong with the engine or with the performance of the airplane. He said he was "just too far behind" the airplane and it "got away" from him because it was "so quick and difficult to control". Weather reported at the time of the accident was 10 miles visibility, with few clouds at 5,000 feet, westerly winds at 5 knots, with a temperature of 87 degrees and dew point of 57degrees. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N134JW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N134JW-2013-08-13), registration cancelled 2013-08-13, S/N JW-1, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stits Aircraft SA3A - Registry model: [Stits SA3A](https://openairdocs.org/model/stits-sa3a) (registry code 86502H7) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JW-1 - Airframe hours: 680 - Engines: Continental C85 Series 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert P. Meyer - Registered owner: Meyer Robert P - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2006 - Departed: 1H0, ST LOUIS, MO - Airport: 1H0, Creve Coeur, runway 25, 3,120 × 220 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: single; flight hours: 2,500 total, 600 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KSTL, 6 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 20080714844589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080714844589A), Jul 14, 2008: Amtr STITSSA3A, St Louis, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft entered 7' corn stocks and impacted ground at high angle, nose down and in left bank approximately 100 yards off center and midfield of the… 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.