# NTSB ERA11CA339: Kendall W R/Mclaughlin J Rans S-10 Sakota, N444YB, Bennettsville, SC, June 12, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 12, 2011, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Bennettsville, SC - Coordinates: 34.734722, -79.668334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7347&lon=-79.6683&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 19, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80734 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA339 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80734/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80734 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA339 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight familiarization of the airstrip. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Kendall W R/Mclaughlin J RANS S-10 SAKOTA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05622CS), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Kendall W R/Mclaughlin J RANS S-10 SAKOTA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=05622CS), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Kendall W R/Mclaughlin J RANS S-10 SAKOTA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=05622CS), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Kendall W R/Mclaughlin J RANS S-10 SAKOTA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05622CS), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Kendall W R/Mclaughlin J RANS S-10 SAKOTA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05622CS), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he attempted to take off from a grass airstrip on a runway that sloped upwards to the crest of a hill. He began the takeoff roll midway up the slope with his forward visibility limited due to the slope's inclination and the taildragger configuration of the airplane. Upon reaching the crest of the hill, the pilot realized that the runway doglegged about 40 degrees to the left, but the airplane was traveling too fast at that point to be able to make the turn. The airplane left the runway and continued down an adjacent road before veering into a ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot did not report any preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane, and noted that the accident could have been prevented had he taxied to the crest of the hill first and performed a visual check prior to beginning the takeoff attempt. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he attempted to take off from a grass airstrip on a runway that sloped upwards to the crest of a hill. He began the takeoff roll midway up the slope with his forward visibility limited due to the slope's inclination and the taildragger configuration of the airplane. Upon reaching the crest of the hill, the pilot realized that the runway doglegged about 40 degrees to the left, but the airplane was traveling too fast at that point to be able to make the turn. The airplane left the runway and continued down an adjacent road before veering into a ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot did not report any preexisting mechanical anomalies with the airplane, and noted that the accident could have been prevented had he taxied to the crest of the hill first and performed a visual check prior to beginning the takeoff attempt. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N444YB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N444YB), registered now, S/N 1JB, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KENDALL W R/MCLAUGHLIN J RANS S-10 SAKOTA - Registry model: [Kendall W R/Mclaughlin J RANS S-10 SAKOTA](https://openairdocs.org/model/kendall-w-r-mclaughlin-j-rans-s-10-sakota) (registry code 05622CS) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582dcdi) (registry code 55562, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1JB - Engines: ROTAX 582DCDI 65 horsepower - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: NONE, Bennettsville, SC - Destination: NC71, Parkton, NC - Airport: NONE, Stanton's Barbecue & Fish Camp, runway 30, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 129 total, 19 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20110612010469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110612010469A), Jun 12, 2011: Kendall W R/Mclaughlin J RANS S-10 SAKOTA, Bennettsville, SC, Substantial damage. The pilot landed on a private Grass strip at [privacy data omitted] to eat lunch at Stanton's bbq who owns the Grass strip. The runway runs east and west in a… ## Other investigations on N444YB (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN00LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA006), Oct 9, 1999: Kendall/Mckaughlin Rans S-10 Sakota (N444YB), Hudson, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: Inadequate preflight planning when the pilot failed to evaluate aircraft performance and weather. Factors were high density altitude, and unsuitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80734. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349974&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photograph of Airplane Wing Damage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349971&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20of%20Airplane%20Wing%20Damage%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.