# NTSB ERA12CA313: Arion Lightning LS-1, N782MD, Ghent, NY, April 30, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 30, 2012, 17:31 local (21:31 UTC) - Place: Ghent, NY - Coordinates: 42.350276, -73.636947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3503&lon=-73.6369&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 15, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83521 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA313 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83521/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83521 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA313 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## 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 (probable cause); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060006O), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the airplane encountered a bump in the grass runway during the takeoff roll and lifted off the runway several knots slower than rotation speed. After liftoff, the airplane descended to the left side of the runway, impacted trees, and came to rest in a swampy area, resulting in substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the runway found it to be in satisfactory condition, with no evidence of bumps. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered a bump in the grass runway that forced it to lift off the runway several knots under rotation speed. The airplane descended to the left, impacted trees off the left side of the runway, and came to rest in a swampy area resulting in substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the runway after the accident and found it to be in satisfactory condition, with no evidence of bumps. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N782MD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N782MD-2012-06-19), registration cancelled 2012-06-19, S/N 122, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ARION AIRCRAFT LLC LIGHTNING LS-1 - Registry model: [Arion LIGHTNING LS-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/arion-lightning-ls-1) (registry code 069001H) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34801, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 122 - Airframe hours: 99 - Engines: JABIRU 3300 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mark Daniels - Registered owner: Mark Daniels - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 30, 2012 - Departed: NY1, Ghent, NY - Destination: FWN, Sussex, NJ - Airport: NY1, Kline Kill Airport, runway 01, 4,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review April 29, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 33,000 total, 107 in this make and model, 27,000 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: PSF, 16 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 20120430006409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120430006409A), Apr 30, 2012: Arion Aircraft LLC LIGHTNING LS-1, Ghent, NY, Substantial damage. While attempting to take off, aircraft hit bump on grass runway and became air born while under flying speed. The aircraft decended into a left turn and… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 14, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83521. 8.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369073&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - PSF Weather Observations (item 2, .PDF, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367228&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=PSF%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Pilot and Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367284&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20and%20Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record: FAA Inspector (item 4, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369079&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%3A%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Photo 1: View of Airplane at Rest (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375281&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20Airplane%20at%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: View of Left Wing Damage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369075&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20View%20of%20Left%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.