- Date
- November 29, 2010, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place
- Buffalo, NY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N469SAHaeussler Ray Sonex
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 8, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20101129055889A
- Case key
- 78014
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 failure to maintain directional control during takeoff due to his abrupt advancing of the throttle.
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, when starting to takeoff in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he immediately applied full engine power and lost control of the airplane. The airplane departed the runway to the left and impacted a visual approach slope indicator control box, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. He additionally stated that the accident may have been prevented if he had applied the throttle gradually.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that, when starting to takeoff in the tailwheel-equipped airplane he immediately applied full throttle and lost control of the airplane. The airplane departed the runway to the left and impacted a visual approach slope indicator control box, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane, and said that the accident may have been prevented if he had applied the throttle gradually.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N469SA
- Reported as
- Haeussler Ray Sonex
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 0206
- Airframe hours
- 191
- Engine
- Ama/Expr UNKNOWN ENG, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Kenyon Riches
- Registered owner
- Larson Jeffrey L
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2010
- Departed
- 9G0 · Buffalo, NY
- Destination
- 9G0 · Buffalo, NY
- Airport
- 9G0 · Buffalo Airfield, runway 24, 2,600 × 59 ft, asphalt
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
- 73
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Private, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 22, 2009
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 527 total · 7 in this make and model · 406 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 22,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 46 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.28 inHg
- Observed at
- BUF, 5 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 29, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 148 KB 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.