- Date
- May 10, 2017, 15:40 local (19:40 UTC)
- Place
- Reedsville, PA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N532SEReupert Mark Avid Flyer
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 22, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20170510007079A
- Case key
- 95149
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 sport pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.
Findings · 2
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
The sport pilot, who was also the owner of the experimental, amateur-built, tailwheel airplane, stated that he was demonstrating maneuvers for the purpose of developing his brother's familiarity with the make and model airplane. The sport pilot's brother was a pilot-rated passenger, was seated in the right seat, and had not previously flown the make and model airplane. After completing about 1 hour of maneuvers, the sport pilot's brother attempted to take off in calm wind. During the takeoff roll, as the tail became airborne, the airplane began to swerve. The sport pilot's brother overcorrected for the swerve, and the airplane departed the right side of the runway. The sport pilot attempted to regain control and climb over obstacles, but the airplane stalled and impacted a field. Examination of the wreckage revealed damage to both wings and the fuselage. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were observed, nor did the pilots report any.
Factual narrative
The sport pilot, was also the owner of the experimental, amateur-built, tailwheel airplane stated that he was demonstrating maneuvers for the purpose of developing his brother's familiarity with the make and model airplane. The sport pilot's brother was a pilot-rated passenger, seated in the right seat and had not previously flown the make and model airplane. After completing about 1 hour of maneuvers, the sport pilot's brother attempted a takeoff in calm wind. During the takeoff roll, as the tail became airborne, the airplane began to swerve. The sport pilot's brother overcorrected for the swerve and the airplane departed the right side of the runway. The sport pilot attempted to regain control and climb over obstacles, but the airplane stalled and impacted a field. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to both wings and the fuselage. The inspector did not observe any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilots report any.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N532SE
- Reported as
- Reupert Mark Avid Flyer (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 231
- Built
- 1985
- Airframe hours
- 900
- Engine
- Rotax 582, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · April 28, 2017 · 2 hours before
- Departed
- RVL · Reedsville, PA
- Destination
- RVL · Reedsville, PA
- Airport
- RVL · Mifflin County Airport, runway 24, 5,001 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- None
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 74
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Sport Pilot
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Last flight review
- September 11, 2015
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 700 total · 700 in this make and model · 700 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot-rated passenger
- Age
- 67
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 200 total · 999,999 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.97 inHg
- Observed at
- UNV, 15 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 24, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.1 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.