- Date
- October 25, 2009, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Athens, KY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N78EElkins Christen Eagle II
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 3, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20091025025669A
- Case key
- 74959
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 pilot's improper liftoff, resulting in a collision with the ground during climbout.
Findings · 3
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 stated that during takeoff from the turf runway, he became airborne at "lower than normal" airspeed. The pilot lowered the airplane's nose to gain airspeed, and the airplane's main landing gear contacted the ground. He reported hearing a "metallic sound" and "suspected damage to the right wheel pant." The pilot proceeded with the takeoff, and chose to circle the airport and land to inspect the damage. According to the pilot, the approach to landing was normal and the touchdown was "firm but within normal range." Upon touchdown, both left and right main gear collapsed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane after the accident reported identifying no mechanical malfunctions.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that during takeoff from the turf runway, he became airborne at "lower than normal" airspeed. The pilot lowered the airplane's nose to gain airspeed, and the airplane's main landing gear contacted the ground. He reported hearing a "metallic sound" and "suspected damage to the right wheel pant." The pilot proceeded with the takeoff, and chose to circle the airport and land to inspect the damage. According to the pilot, the approach to landing was normal and the touchdown was "firm but within normal range." Upon touchdown, both left and right main landing gears collapsed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane after the accident reported identifying no mechanical malfunctions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N78E
- Reported as
- Elkins Christen Eagle II
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 0001
- Engine
- Lycoming AEIO-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Edward Larkin
- Registered owner
- Edward Larkin
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- N/A · Athens, KY
- Destination
- K62 · Falmouth, KY
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- N/A · Silo Field, runway 07, 3,500 × 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
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 5, 2008
- Flight hours
- 2,100 total · 150 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.13 inHg
- Observed at
- LEX, 10 nm away
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.6 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.