FTW02LA202

NTSB accident investigation · Jackie SNS-7-Hiperbipe 3 · Lancaster, TX · July 6, 2002

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 6, 2002, 08:45 local (13:45 UTC)
Place
Lancaster, TX
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N234JDJackie SNS-7-Hiperbipe 3
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 1, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20020706023619A
Case key
55142

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff roll.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - on ground/waterTakeoff - roll/run
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandFactor
Loss of control - in flightTakeoff - initial climb
Airspeed - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Stall - inadvertentPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

On takeoff roll, the airplane swerved to the left. The pilot overcorrected by applying right brake or rudder. The airplane then swerved to the right across the runway and became airborne. Approximately 15 feet agl, due to lack of airspeed, the airplane stalled and impacted the ground with its left wing. Subsequently, the airplane's right wing hit the ground, separating it from the fuselage. The airplane came to rest upright approximately 100 yards to the right side and perpendicular to the runway.

Factual narrative

On July 6, 2002, approximately 0845 central daylight time, a Jackie SNS-7-Hiperbipe 3 experimental single-engine airplane, N234JD, sustained substantial damage after impacting terrain following a loss of control during takeoff/initial climb at the Lancaster Airport, Lancaster, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

In a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that on takeoff roll from runway 13, the airplane swerved "for some reason" to the left. The pilot further stated that he must have over corrected by applying right brake or rudder. The airplane then swerved to the right across the runway and became airborne. Approximately 15 feet agl, due to "lack of airspeed," the airplane stalled and impacted the ground with its left wing. Subsequently, the airplane's right wing hit the ground, separating it from the fuselage. The pilot stated that the airplane came to rest upright approximately 100 yards to the right side and perpendicular to the runway.

An FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site, reported the right wing had separated, the propeller was bent and twisted, and both main gear were folded up underneath the fuselage.

At 0853, the Redbird Automatic Surface Observing System, located 10 nautical miles northwest of the accident site, reported wind calm, visibility 8 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 25 degrees Centigrade, dew point 22 degrees Centigrade, with an altimeter setting of 30.09 inches of mercury.

Aircraft

Registration
N234JD
Reported as
Jackie SNS-7-Hiperbipe 3
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
234
Engine
Lycoming IO-360-BEF, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Lloyd G. Clements
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · June 11, 2002 · 1 hours before
Departed
LNC · Lancaster, TX
Destination
LNC · Lancaster, TX
Airport
LNC · Lancaster Airport, runway 13, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

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

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
69
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
December 19, 2001
Seat
Left
Flight hours
394 total · 200 in this make and model · 394 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
8 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
77 °F, dew point 72 °F
Altimeter
30.09 inHg
Observed at
RBD, 10 nm away

Docket · 1

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 10, 2002, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 392 KB 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.