- Date
- November 1, 2008, 21:35 local (Nov 2, 2008, 02:35 UTC)
- Place
- Thomasville, NC
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N318CFFox Jack G Mong Biwin
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 24, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20081101850329A
- Case key
- 69411
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 builder’s failure to set adequate propeller pitch during propeller installation.
Findings · 2
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 was making the first of a series of test flights for the new airplane. After engine run-ups and a high speed taxi run, the first takeoff was attempted. The airplane became airborne after a takeoff roll of 1,000 feet. At 30 feet AGL, the airplane would not climb higher or accelerate above 50 knots. Insufficient runway remained to land and the airplane impacted trees in a fully-stalled condition. The pilot reported there was no mechanical malfunction and the ground adjustable propeller was not set to allow the airplane to accelerate.
Factual narrative
The pilot was making the first of a series of test flights for the new airplane. After engine run-ups and a high speed taxi run, the first takeoff was attempted. The airplane became airborne after a takeoff roll of 1,000 feet. At 30 feet AGL, the airplane would not climb higher or accelerate above 50 knots. Insufficient runway remained to land and the airplane impacted trees in a fully-stalled condition. The pilot reported there was no mechanical malfunction and the ground adjustable propeller was not set to allow the airplane to accelerate.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N318CF
- Reported as
- Fox Jack G Mong Biwin
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- JGF 813
- Engine
- Rotax 447, 40 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · Part 91
- Operator
- Thayer Terry W
- Registered owner
- Thayer Terry W
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Unknown · June 21, 2008
- Departed
- N97 · Thomasville, NC
- Destination
- N97 · Thomasville, NC
- Airport
- N97 · Hiatt Airport, runway 01, 2,500 × 75 ft, grass/turf
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
- 74
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial, Sport Pilot
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Sport pilot, Unknown
- Last flight review
- May 16, 2008
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 21,000 total · 1 in this make and model · 12,800 as pilot in command · 18 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.