# NTSB ERA15CA242: Penell Mark A Rans S-10 KIT, N693MP, Kirkville, NY, June 15, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 15, 2015, 19:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Kirkville, NY - Coordinates: 43.074165, -75.93222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0742&lon=-75.9322&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 8, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91389 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA242 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91389/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91389 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA242 ## Probable cause Pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering during the initial climb, which resulted in a loss of lift and subsequent off airport landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to abort the takeoff after recognizing the airplane's slow acceleration. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Penell Mark A RANS S-10 KIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05631OZ), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Penell Mark A RANS S-10 KIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05631OZ), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Penell Mark A RANS S-10 KIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05631OZ), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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 lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Penell Mark A RANS S-10 KIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=05631OZ), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Penell Mark A RANS S-10 KIT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05631OZ), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the takeoff roll from the 1,400-foot-long runway, the airplane encountered water on the runway and "was not able to gain enough momentum." During the initial climb the airplane was unable to clear the surrounding trees. Therefore, the pilot elected to maneuver the airplane in order to avoid striking the trees. During the turn, the airspeed decreased and the pilot made an off airport landing to a nearby golf course. According to a witness, the airplane was about 40 feet off the ground when it began the turn. In addition, it looked like the airplane "turned too tight," and that the "wings never leveled out" prior to impacting the ground. During the off airport landing, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He further stated, "it was my fault, not the [airplane's]." At the time of the accident the wind was from the northwest at 4 knots. ## Factual narrative During the takeoff roll from the 1,400-foot-long runway, the airplane encountered water on the runway and "was not able to gain enough momentum." During the initial climb the airplane was unable to clear the surrounding trees. Therefore, the pilot elected to maneuver the airplane in order to avoid striking the trees. During the turn, the airspeed decreased and the pilot made an off airport landing to a nearby golf course. According to a witness, the airplane was about 40 feet off the ground when it began the turn. In addition, it looked like the airplane "turned too tight," and that the "wings never leveled out" prior to impacting the ground. During the off airport landing, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He further stated, "it was my fault, not the [airplane's]." At the time of the accident the winds were from the northwest at 4 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N693MP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N693MP-2018-07-12), registration cancelled 2018-07-12, S/N 0291125, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PENELL MARK A RANS S-10 KIT (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Penell Mark A RANS S-10 KIT](https://openairdocs.org/model/penell-mark-a-rans-s-10-kit) (registry code 05631OZ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0291125 - Year built: 1991 - Airframe hours: 180.6 - Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 12, 2013 - Departed: NY72, MANLIUS, NY - Destination: NY25, CAMILLUS, NY - Airport: NY72, Poolsbrook Aerodrome, runway 09, 1,400 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; flight hours: 593.2 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: SYR, 8 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 20150615008779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150615008779A), Jun 15, 2015: Penell Mark A RANS S-10 KIT, Kirkville, NY, Substantial damage. On June 15, 2015, at approximately 1915 eastern daylight time, a rans S-10 experimental amateur built aircraft, N693MP, impacted terrain on the poolsbrook golf… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 23, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91389. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 196 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432075&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 760 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432076&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - FAA Statement (item 3, .PDF, 26 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432077&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Statement-Master.PDF - SYR Weather Observations (item 4, .PDF, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432078&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=SYR%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Photo 1 – Overview of Wreckage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432079&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Overview%20of%20Wreckage%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.