# NTSB ERA15CA188: P&M Pulsr, N415PM, Gulf Shores, AL, April 16, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 16, 2015, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Gulf Shores, AL - Coordinates: 30.289443, -87.671669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2894&lon=-87.6717&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report August 11, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91042 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA188 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91042/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91042 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA188 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a collision with the ground. ## 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: [P & M PULSR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=06001AW), [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: [P & M PULSR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=06001AW), [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 on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [P & M PULSR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=06001AW), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [P & M PULSR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=06001AW), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was conducting his first flight in the new light-sport weight-shift control aircraft, which he purchased about 1 month prior. During the takeoff roll, he inadvertently applied a right steering control input and then over-corrected to the left. The left wing contacted the ground, and the aircraft rolled over onto its left side, which resulted in substantial wing and fuselage damage. The pilot reported that he did not experience any preaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. He further reported about 1,200 hours of total fight experience, which included about 1,000 hours in similar weight-shift control aircraft. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was conducting his first flight in the new light-sport weight-shift control aircraft, which he purchased about 1 month prior. During the takeoff roll, he inadvertently applied a right steering control input and then over-corrected to the left. The left wing contacted the ground, and the aircraft rolled over onto its left side, which resulted in substantial wing and fuselage damage. The pilot reported that he did not experience any preaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. He further reported about 1,200 hours of total fight experience, which included about 1,000 hours in similar weight-shift control aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N415PM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N415PM), registered now, S/N 8705, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: P&M AVIATION LTD. PULSR - Registry model: [P & M PULSR](https://openairdocs.org/model/p-m-pulsr) (registry code 06001AW) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: 8705 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 2 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Departed: JKA, Gulf Shores, AL - Destination: JKA, Gulf Shores, AL - Airport: JKA, Jack Edwards, runway 09, 6,962 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: minor; private, sport pilot, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, unknown; last flight review April 10, 2015; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,200 total, 990 in this make and model, 1,150 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: JKA ## 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 20150416004499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150416004499A), Apr 16, 2015: P&M Aviation Ltd PULSR, Gulf Shores, AL, Substantial damage. Pilot lost directional control of aircraft on takeoff roll. During his attempt to correct, he over-corrected resulting in a wingstrike and overturned aircraft. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 28, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91042. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429860&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Airplane Airworthiness Certificate and Bill of Sale (item 2, .PDF, 467 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429861&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Airworthiness%20Certificate%20and%20Bill%20of%20Sale-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 – Post-Accident View of the Airplane (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429862&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Post-Accident%20View%20of%20the%20Airplane%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.