# NTSB ERA13CA400: Maxair Drifter Drifter II, N42548, Lafayette, TN, September 1, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 1, 2013, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Lafayette, TN - Coordinates: 36.52, -86.058052 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5200&lon=-86.0581&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report November 19, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87988 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA400 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87988/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87988 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA400 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the initial climb after takeoff in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a hard off-airport landing. ## 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: [Maxair Drifter DRIFTER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=059040Z), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Maxair Drifter DRIFTER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=059040Z), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Maxair Drifter DRIFTER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=059040Z), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Maxair Drifter DRIFTER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=059040Z), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Maxair Drifter DRIFTER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=059040Z), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Maxair Drifter DRIFTER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=059040Z), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the amateur-built, amphibious, light-sport airplane reported that the airplane accelerated and lifted off from the asphalt runway without incident; however, during the initial climb it encountered "severe turbulence." The pilot was not able to control the airplane and was attempting to return to the airport when it landed hard in a soy bean field, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation; nor did the pilot report any. The pilot reported that wind at the time of the accident was light and variable, with gusts up to 8 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the amateur-built, amphibious, light-sport airplane reported that the airplane accelerated and lifted off from the asphalt runway without incident; however, during the initial climb it encountered "severe turbulence." The pilot was not able to control the airplane and was attempting to return to the airport when it landed hard in a soy bean field, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation; nor did the pilot report any. The pilot reported that winds at the time of the accident were light and variable, with gusts up to 8 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N42548](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N42548), registered now, S/N MD 2008, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAXAIR DRIFTER DRIFTER II - Registry model: [Maxair Drifter DRIFTER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/maxair-drifter-drifter-ii) (registry code 059040Z) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: MD 2008 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 255 - Engines: ROTAX 912UL 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: David A. Gregory - Registered owner: David A. Gregory - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 26, 2013, 25 hours before - Departed: 3M7, Lafayette, TN - Destination: NONE, Celina, TN - Airport: 3M7, Lafayette Muni, runway 01, 5,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: minor; private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 960 total, 125 in this make and model, 881 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: BWG, 32 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 20130901019219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130901019219A), Sep 1, 2013: Maxair Drifter DRIFTER II, Lafayettte, TN, Destroyed. Pilot stated that after departure while the aircraft was turning from crosswind to downwind pilot could not maintain altitude. Pilot further states that the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87988. 4.4 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=40403496&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum For Record (FAA Inspector) (item 2, .PDF, 453 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403497&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20(FAA%20Inspector)-Master.PDF - Weather Observations (KBWG) (item 3, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403498&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Observations%20(KBWG)-Master.PDF - Photograph # 1 – Airplane as it came to rest (provided by FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40403561&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%201%20%E2%80%93%20Airplane%20as%20it%20came%20to%20rest%20(provided%20by%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.