# NTSB ERA09CA262: Tecnam P2002 Sierra, N122LS, Lake Wales, FL, April 24, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 24, 2009, 13:05 local (17:05 UTC)
- Place: Lake Wales, FL
- Coordinates: 27.952777, -81.601112 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9528&lon=-81.6011&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73722
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA262
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73722/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73722
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA262

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control and failure to maintain clearance from trees during initial climb.

## 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: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P2002 SIERRA, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0600006), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P2002 SIERRA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=0600006), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P2002 SIERRA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=0600006), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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); cases with it: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P2002 SIERRA, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0600006), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P2002 SIERRA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=0600006), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)
- [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P2002 SIERRA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=0600006), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot departed on Runway 18 in a special light sport airplane with his grandson onboard. The turf runway was 2,313 feet long by 50 feet wide, and sloped down toward the middle, with sandy, soft soil. The recorded wind at an airport located 9 miles west of the accident airport, about the time of the accident, was from 150 degrees at 4 knots. The airplane weighed about 1,250 pounds at the time of departure, less than the maximum gross weight of 1,320 pounds. A witness stated that the pilot attempted to rotate and climb, but did not lower the airplane’s pitch attitude to gain airspeed in ground effect. The airplane contacted the ground once, about 1,600 feet, and again about 2,500 feet from the point of initial takeoff. According to the witness, the pilot continued his takeoff roll and wallowed in ground effect. The right wing of the airplane impacted a tree approximately 15 feet above ground level and the airplane came to rest inverted. A postcrash fire subsequently consumed the airplane. The pilot also reported that the engine was operating properly and that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions. When asked how this accident could have been prevented, the pilot stated that he should have aborted the takeoff when he initially touched down on the soft soil.

## Factual narrative

The pilot departed on runway 18 in a special light sport airplane, with his grandson onboard. The turf runway was 2,313-feet-long by 50-feet- wide, and sloped down toward the middle, with sandy, soft soil. The recorded wind at an airport located 9 miles west of the accident airport, about the time of the accident, was from 150 degrees at 4 knots. The airplane weighed about 1,250 pounds at the time of departure; less than the maximum gross weight of 1,320 pounds. A witness stated that the pilot attempted to rotate and climb, but did not lower the airplane’s pitch attitude to gain airspeed in ground effect. The airplane contacted the ground once, about 1,600 feet, and again about 2,500 feet from the point of initial takeoff. According to the witness, the pilot continued his takeoff roll and wallowed in ground effect. The right wing of the airplane impacted a tree, approximately 15 feet above ground level and the airplane came to rest inverted. A postcrash fire subsequently consumed the airplane. The pilot also reported that the engine was operating properly and that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions. When asked how this accident could have been prevented, the pilot stated that he should have aborted the takeoff when he initially touched down on the soft soil.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N122LS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N122LS-2018-01-11), registration cancelled 2018-01-11, S/N 200, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TECNAM P2002 Sierra (200)
- Registry model: [Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecna P2002 SIERRA](https://openairdocs.org/model/costruzioni-aeronautiche-tecna-p2002-sierra) (registry code 0600006) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 07-06-06
- Airframe hours: 69
- Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: PLG Aviation Inc
- Registered owner: PLG Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 6, 2009, 17 hours before
- Departed: X25, Lake Wales, FL
- Destination: SRQ, Sarasota, FL
- Airport: X25, Chalet Suzanne, runway 18, 2,313 × 50 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 9, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 3,636 total, 69 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observed at: BOW, 9 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 20090424016809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090424016809A), Apr 24, 2009: Tecnam P2002SIERRA, Lake Wales, FL, Destroyed. The pilot departed on runway 18 in a special light sport airplane, with his grandson onboard. The turf runway was 2,313-feet-long by 50-feet-wide, and sloped…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 3, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73722. 2.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313336&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313337&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Weather Reports (item 3, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313339&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports-Master.PDF
- Photo - Airplane Damage (Photo courtesy of Polk County Sheriff Dept, Polk County, FL) (item 4, .PDF, 596 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313340&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Airplane%20Damage%20(Photo%20courtesy%20of%20Polk%20County%20Sheriff%20Dept,%20Polk%20County,%20FL)-Master.PDF
- Photo - Chalet Suzanne Airport Aerial View (Photo courtesy of Polk County Sheriff Dept, Polk County, FL) (item 5, .PDF, 382 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40313341&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Chalet%20Suzanne%20Airport%20Aerial%20View%20(Photo%20courtesy%20of%20Polk%20County%20Sheriff%20Dept,%20Polk%20County,%20FL)-Master.PDF

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.

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