- Date
- July 30, 2011, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Huntington, WV
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N434WMMcfarland WM H Rans S6S
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Nose over/nose down
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 17, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110730016029A
- Case key
- 81301
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 failure of both pilots to maintain proper pitch control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was both pilots' inexperience in the airplane make/model.
Findings · 5
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
During the initial portion of a training flight in the tailwheel-equipped amateur-built airplane, the flight instructor demonstrated two takeoffs and landings to the pilot. The pilot then assumed the controls and began the takeoff roll. The flight instructor directed the pilot to rotate the tail of the airplane into the air by increasing nose down pitch. According to the flight instructor, the pilot did not add enough forward pressure and the airplane seemed like it was still in a nose high attitude. The flight instructor then assisted the pilot by pushing forward on the control stick to what looked like a level attitude. The propeller struck the ground and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the tail and right wing. Both pilots noted no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Neither pilot had any previous experience performing takeoffs or landings in the accident airplane make and model.
Factual narrative
During the initial portion of a training flight in the tailwheel-equipped amateur-built airplane, the flight instructor demonstrated two takeoffs and landings to the pilot. The pilot then assumed the controls and began the takeoff roll. The flight instructor directed the pilot to rotate the tail of the airplane into the air by increasing nose down pitch; according to the flight instructor, the pilot did not add enough forward pressure and the airplane seemed like it was still in a nose high attitude. The flight instructor then assisted the pilot by pushing forward on the control stick to what looked like a level attitude. The propeller struck the ground and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the tail and right wing. Both pilots noted no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Neither pilot had any previous experience performing takeoffs or landings in the accident airplane make and model.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N434WM
- Reported as
- Mcfarland WM H Rans S6S
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 07001379S
- Airframe hours
- 278
- Engine
- Rotax 912S, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Paul E. Adams
- Registered owner
- Paul E. Adams
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · July 15, 2011
- Departed
- I41 · Huntington, WV
- Destination
- I41 · Huntington, WV
- Airport
- I41 · Robert Newlon Field Airport, runway 20, 2,300 × 75 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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 61
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 19, 2011
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 7,400 total · 1 in this make and model · 6,900 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 73
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 332 total · 1 in this make and model · 272 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.03 inHg
- Observed at
- KHTS, 12 nm away
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.0 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.