# NTSB ERA09CA220: SIAI Marchetti SM-1019B, N273LH, Dade City, FL, March 29, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 29, 2009, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Dade City, FL - Coordinates: 28.356666, -82.25389 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3567&lon=-82.2539&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 11, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73566 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA220 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73566/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA220 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during initial climb. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Siai-Marchetti SM-1019B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=8120410), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Siai-Marchetti SM-1019B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=8120410), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Siai-Marchetti SM-1019B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=8120410), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Siai-Marchetti SM-1019B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=8120410), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Siai-Marchetti SM-1019B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=8120410), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was departing east from a 900-foot-long by 50-foot-wide private turf runway. When the airplane was about 20 feet above the ground, a "significant" wind gust pushed the airplane left, and its left wing contacted a tree branch and spun the airplane around. The airplane incurred damage to both wings and the engine separated from the airframe. Reported winds in the vicinity, about the time of the accident, were from the west at 13 knots. When asked how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot stated that he should have remained south of the runway centerline as the predominant winds are southerly. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he was departing east from a 900-foot-long by 50-foot-wide private turf runway. When the airplane was about 20 feet above the ground, a "significant" wind gust pushed the airplane left, and its left wing contacted a tree branch and spun the airplane around. The airplane came to rest facing opposite the direction of the departure, and had incurred damage to both wings, in addition to separating the engine from the airframe. Reported winds in the vicinity, about the time of the accident, were from the west at 13 knots. When asked how the accident could have been prevented, the pilot stated that he should remain south of the runway centerline as the predominant winds are southerly. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N273LH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N273LH), registered now, S/N 06, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SIAI MARCHETTI SM-1019B (B) - Registry model: [Siai-Marchetti SM-1019B](https://openairdocs.org/model/siai-marchetti-sm-1019b) (registry code 8120410) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison 250-B15G](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-250-b15g) (registry code 03064, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 6 - Airframe hours: 1100 - Engines: Allison 250 turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2008, 75 hours before - Departed: None, Dade City, FL - Destination: None, Dade City, FL - Airport: None, Roma Dade City Airport, runway 09, 900 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 4,584 total, 75 in this make and model, 4,584 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BKV, 13 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 20090329005279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090329005279A), Mar 29, 2009: Siaima SM1019B, Dade City, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 29, 2009, at around 1100 am local, near Dade City, Florida, aircraft N273LH, an experimental amateur built marchetti, model SM-1019B, while on… 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.