- Date
- September 12, 2008, 12:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place
- Roanoke, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N901LAEvektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 11, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20080912850259A
- Case key
- 68946
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of flight experience in the make and model of airplane.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.
Analysis
After landing for his fifth touch-and-go maneuver, the pilot applied full engine power for takeoff. As he applied engine power the airplane began to swerve towards the left side of the runway. To arrest the swerve the pilot applied right rudder pedal, which resulted in a swerve back to the right. Unable to stop this swerve the airplane exited the right side of the runway. Moments later the airplane's right main landing gear and nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest in grass alongside the runway in an upright position. The pilot reported that he had previously accumulated 2 flight hours in the accident airplane's make and model. An examination of the airplane after the accident revealed no anomalies that would have prevented normal operation of the airplane's flight controls.
Factual narrative
On September 12, 2008, about 1240 central daylight time, a single-engine Evektor-Aerotechnik SportStar, special light sport airplane, N901LA, was substantially damaged following a loss of control shortly after landing at the Northwest Regional Airport (52F), near Roanoke, Texas. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to Sanino and Associates LLC, of Denton, Texas, and operated by North Texas Flight Academy of Roanoke, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight had originating from 52F about 1215.According to the pilot, after landing for his fifth touch-and-go maneuver he applied full engine power for takeoff. As the engine power was applied the airplane began to swerve towards the left side of the runway. To arrest the swerve the pilot applied right rudder pedal which resulted in a swerve back to the right. Unable to stop this swerve the airplane exited the right side of the runway. Moment later the airplane's right main landing gear and nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest in grass alongside the runway in an upright position. The pilot and passenger were able to exit unassisted. The pilot later reported that he had previously accumulated 2 flight hours in the accident airplane's make and model. The NTSB investigator-in-charge examined the airplane upon recovery. The examination revealed that the airplane's left wing and fuselage had sustained structural damage during the accident. In addition, no anomalies were found that would have prevented normal operation of the airplane's flight controls. The weather observation station at Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW), located 7 miles southwest of the accident site reported winds to be variable at 3 knots around the time of the accident.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N901LA
- Reported as
- Evektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20070901
- Engine
- Rotax 912ULS, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- North Texas Flight Academy
- Registered owner
- Sanino And Associates LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Departed
- 52F · Roanoke, TX
- Destination
- 52F · Roanoke, TX
- Airport
- 52F · Northwest Regional Airport, runway 17, 3,500 × 40 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
- 59
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 11, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 189 total · 2 in this make and model · 141 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AFW, 7 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.