- Date
- September 29, 2012, 13:10 local (18:10 UTC)
- Place
- Ashland, MS
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N234RHHenrie Raymond Zenith CH 701 Stol
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 31, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120929024539A
- Case key
- 85238
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 inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions during initial climb, which resulted in an impact with trees and terrain.
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
According to the pilot’s statement, just before takeoff, he noted that the windsock was “still” and initiated his takeoff roll. About 15 to 20 feet above ground level (agl), the flight encountered a left crosswind causing the airplane to go to the right. The pilot corrected by immediately applying left aileron and left rudder control inputs, then removed the aileron and rudder control inputs. The flight continued and about 30 feet agl, the flight encountered another wind gust that pushed the airplane to the right “faster” than the pilot could apply corrections. The right wingtip impacted a treetop causing the airplane to reverse its direction, descend rapidly, and impact the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Weather data recorded around the time of the accident at the nearest observation facility indicated wind from 30 degrees at 9 knots. A representative of the airplane designer reported that a 5- to 10-knot crosswind is well within the airplane’s maximum demonstrated crosswind limitation.
Factual narrative
The pilot was attempting to depart the airport to return home in the experimental light sport aircraft. According to the pilot’s statement, just before takeoff, he noted that the windsock was “still” and initiated his takeoff roll. About 20 feet above ground level (agl), the flight encountered a left crosswind causing the airplane to go to the right. He corrected by immediately applying left aileron and left rudder control inputs, then removed the aileron and rudder control inputs. The flight continued and about 30 feet agl, the flight encountered another wind gust that pushed the airplane to the right “faster” than he could apply corrections. The right wingtip impacted a treetop causing the airplane to reverse its direction, descend rapidly, and impact the ground causing structural damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions. A representative of the airplane designer reported to NTSB that a 10 knot crosswind is well within the airplane’s maximum demonstrated crosswind limitation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N234RH
- Reported as
- Henrie Raymond Zenith CH 701 Stol
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 7-6049
- Airframe hours
- 62
- Engine
- Hirth F-30, 105 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Henrie Raymond
- Registered owner
- Henrie Raymond
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 25, 2012 · 50 hours before
- Departed
- MS14 · Ashland, MS
- Destination
- 4TN9 · Beech Bluff, TN
- Airport
- MS14 · John Farese Airpark, runway 05, 2,000 × 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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 63
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot, Unknown
- Last flight review
- May 1, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 308 total · 61 in this make and model · 235 as pilot in command · 11 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- CRX, 30 nm away
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 27, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 8.0 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.