# NTSB ERA13CA354: Stetson Norman B Challenger II, N94454, Orange, MA, August 6, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 6, 2013, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Orange, MA - Coordinates: 42.568611, -72.286392 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5686&lon=-72.2864&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 12, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87700 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA354 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87700/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87700 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA354 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of total flight experience in the accident airplane make and model. ## 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: [Stetson Norman B CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05901UO), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Stetson Norman B CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05901UO), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Stetson Norman B CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=05901UO), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Stetson Norman B CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05901UO), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Stetson Norman B CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05901UO), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was departing for his first flight in the airplane. According to a statement provided by the pilot to the airport manager, the airplane was about 50 feet above ground level when the left wing dropped. The pilot reported that he attempted to correct the wing drop by manipulating the ailerons only; however, he was unsuccessful in leveling the airplane. He then applied left rudder while applying right aileron and the airplane began to spin to the left. The airplane impacted the ground in an approximate 10-degree nose down, left bank attitude, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. According to Federal Aviation Administration records and photographs of the Hobbs meter, the airplane had accumulated 8.9 hours in the 2 years since the pilot had purchased it. The pilot stated that these hours had been accumulated during taxi tests, and that the accident flight was his first attempt to fly the airplane. According to the pilot, there were no mechanical malfunctions or abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot was departing for his first flight in the airplane. According to a statement provided by the pilot to the airport manager, the airplane was about 50 feet above ground level when the left wing dropped. The pilot reported that he attempted to correct the wing drop by manipulating the ailerons only; however, he was unsuccessful in leveling the airplane. He then applied left rudder while applying right aileron and the airplane began to spin to the left. The airplane impacted the ground in an approximate 10-degree nose down, left bank attitude, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. According to Federal Aviation Administration records and photographs of the Hobbs meter, the airplane had accumulated 8.9 hours in the 2 years since the pilot had purchased it. The pilot stated that these hours had been accumulated during taxi tests, and that the accident flight was his first attempt to fly the airplane. According to the pilot, there were no mechanical malfunctions or abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94454](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N94454-2017-10-06), registration cancelled 2017-10-06, S/N CH2-0587-B-0256, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STETSON NORMAN B CHALLENGER II - Registry model: [Stetson Norman B CHALLENGER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/stetson-norman-b-challenger-ii) (registry code 05901UO) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-series) (registry code 55564, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CH2-0587-B-0256 - Engines: ROTAX 503 SCSI 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: ORE, Orange, MA - Destination: ORE, Orange, MA - Airport: ORE, Orange Municipal Airport, runway 32, 4,801 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 5, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 113 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: ORE ## 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 20130806017009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130806017009A), Aug 6, 2013: Stetson Norman B CHALLENGER II, Orange, MA, Substantial damage. At approximately 1:00PM eastern daylight time (EDT) N94454, a Challenger II experimental homebuilt, crashed during takeoff at Orange Municipal Airport located… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 3, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87700. 3.4 MB in all. - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview with Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399776&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Pilot Written Statement to the FAA (item 2, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399299&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Written%20Statement%20to%20the%20FAA-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Logbook [Excerpt] (item 3, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399302&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook%20%5BExcerpt%5D-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Telephone Briefing with the FAA Inspector (item 4, .PDF, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399325&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Briefing%20with%20the%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Airport Manager Statement (item 5, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399298&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Manager%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Orange Mass Weather (item 6, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399300&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Orange%20Mass%20Weather-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Airplane At Rest (Courtesy Airport Authority) (item 7, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399303&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Airplane%20At%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20Airport%20Authority)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Airplane After Recovery (Courtesy of the Airport Authority) (item 8, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399309&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Airplane%20After%20Recovery%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20Airport%20Authority)-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Hobbs Meter (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 9, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399304&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Hobbs%20Meter%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%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.