# NTSB ERA11CA256: Vans RV8, N190GE, Locust Grove, GA, April 21, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 21, 2011, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Locust Grove, GA - Coordinates: 33.365554, -84.165275 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3656&lon=-84.1653&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78937 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA256 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78937/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78937 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA256 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff roll. ## 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: [Christmann Michael VANS RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05619JK), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Christmann Michael VANS RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05619JK), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Christmann Michael VANS RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05619JK), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Christmann Michael VANS RV8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05619JK), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the experimental amateur-built, tailwheel-equipped airplane stated that during the takeoff roll, at approximately 45 knots, the airplane's tail lifted off the ground and the airplane immediately turned left. The pilot attempted to correct with right rudder, brake, and aileron inputs; however, the airplane's right wing and propeller struck the ground. The pilot reduced power, and the airplane continued for approximately 150 feet before it nosed over. The airplane subsequently came to rest upright, and sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall and both wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies of the brake system or rudder controls. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the experimental amateur-built, tailwheel-equipped airplane stated that during the takeoff roll, at approximately 45 knots, the airplane's tail lifted off the ground and the airplane immediately turned left. The pilot attempted to correct with right rudder, brake, and aileron inputs; however, the airplane's right wing and propeller struck the ground. The pilot reduced power, and the airplane continued for approximately 150 feet before it nosed over. The airplane subsequently came to rest upright, and sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall and both wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed no mechanical anomalies of the brake system or rudder controls. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N190GE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N190GE), registered now, S/N 81689 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS RV8 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Christmann Michael VANS RV8](https://openairdocs.org/model/christmann-michael-vans-rv8) (registry code 05619JK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (registry code 41594, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 81689 - Airframe hours: 393 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: GA04, Locust Grove, GA - Destination: 4A4, Cedartown, GA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: GA04, Mallards Landing Airport, runway 25, 4,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2010; flight hours: 7,000 total, 393 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: ATL, 21 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 20110421008499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110421008499A), Apr 21, 2011: Christmann Michael VANS RV8, Locust Grove, GA, Substantial damage. Just after rotation at approximately 45 knots and 25 feet altitude aircraft pitched left. Pilot applied hard right rudder, aircraft bounced, went back in the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 2, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78937. 1.6 MB in all. - Memorandum for Record - Pilot Interview (item 1, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348264&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Pilot%20Interview-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348265&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement to FAA (item 3, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348266&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20to%20FAA-Redacted.PDF - Photo (Courtesy FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348268&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20(Courtesy%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.