# NTSB ERA09CA359: Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 601XL S, N2601, Vaughn, MS, June 20, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 20, 2009, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Vaughn, MS - Coordinates: 32.750278, -90.088058 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7503&lon=-90.0881&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74089 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA359 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74089/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74089 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA359 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 601XL SLSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md?model=060002A), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/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: [Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 601XL SLSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=060002A), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Knowledge: knowledge of geographic area](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032030): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 601XL SLSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032030/cases.md?model=060002A), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 601XL SLSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=060002A), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 601XL SLSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=060002A), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis An airline transport pilot was departing a private grass field in a special light sport airplane with a passenger onboard. With calm wind, the airplane began a takeoff roll to the west on an approximately 1000-foot-long turf runway. The pilot said that during the takeoff roll the airplane encountered a dip/bump in the runway, which reduced groundspeed and extended the ground roll. The airplane became airborne near the end of the runway, where it started to lose lift and struck an unseen wire with the right main landing gear. The wire was a solar/electrical wire, at a height of approximately 1 to 2 feet, which ran along an adjacent soybean patch. The airplane's nose then pitched down and the airplane came to rest at the bottom of a 5-foot embankment. The pilot reported that due to the density altitude and the weight of the airplane, he could not gain sufficient airspeed during the takeoff to climb. The pilot added that had the unseen wire not "snagged" the landing gear, the airplane would have been able to continue accelerating and climbing. The airplane received damage to the propeller, left leading edge of the left wing, the landing gear, and the fuselage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical deficiencies or mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Factual narrative An airline transport pilot was departing a private grass field in a special light sport airplane, with a passenger onboard. With calm wind, the airplane began a takeoff roll to the west on an approximate 1000-foot-long turf runway. The pilot said that during the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered a dip/bump in the runway, which reduced groundspeed and extended the ground roll. The airplane became airborne near the end of the runway, where it started to lose lift and struck an unseen wire with the right main landing gear. The wire was a solar/electrical wire, at a height of approximately 1 to 2 feet, which ran along and adjacent soybean patch. The airplane's nose then pitched down and the airplane came to rest at the bottom of a 5-foot embankment. The pilot reported that due to the density altitude and the weight of the airplane, he could not gain sufficient airspeed during the takeoff to climb. The pilot added that had the unseen wire not "snagged" the landing gear, the airplane would have been able to continue accelerating and climbing. The airplane received damage to the propeller, left leading edge of the left wing, the landing gear, and the fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies or mechanical problems with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2601](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2601), registered now, S/N 601-005S, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRCRAFT MFG & DEVELOPMENT CO CH 601XL S - Registry model: [Aircraft Mfg & Development CH 601XL SLSA](https://openairdocs.org/model/aircraft-mfg-development-ch-601xl-slsa) (registry code 060002A) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200-A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-a) (registry code 17191, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 601-005S - Airframe hours: 311 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John M Nassour - Registered owner: N2601 LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 5, 2009 - Departed: NONE, Vaughn, MS - Destination: VKS, Vicksburg, MS - Airport: NONE, Private Airstrip, runway 27, 1,000 × ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 11, 2009; seat: right; flight hours: 6,837 total, 140 in this make and model, 6,590 as pilot in command, 268 in the last 90 days, 77 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: 95 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: JAN, 10 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 20090620009419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090620009419A), Jun 20, 2009: Aircra CH601XLSLSA, Vaughn, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was departing west on a grass runway next to a corn field at approximately 1400 on June 20, 2009. The grass runway was not level, it had… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 24, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74089. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 760 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315902&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315904&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Airport Metar (item 3, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315905&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Metar-Master.PDF - Photo - Wreckage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 210 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315912&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Wreckage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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. --- 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.