- Date
- August 6, 2002, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Welsh, LA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N497RPPage Rans S-7
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 6, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration (FSDO)
- FAA report
- 20020806029929A
- Case key
- 55413
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 pilot's failure to maintain the minimum required airspeed for flight, which resulted in an inadvertent stall.
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.
Analysis
During a normal takeoff to the north from a turf covered runway, the airplane stalled, and subsequently, impacted the ground. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident the wind was from the north at 10 knots gusting to 15 knots.
Factual narrative
On August 6, 2002, at 1600 central daylight time, a Page Rans S-7 amateur-built airplane, N497RP, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during takeoff from the Welsh Airport, Welsh, Louisiana. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for the Jennings Airport, Jennings, Louisiana.
The 386-hour pilot reported that during a normal takeoff to the north from a turf covered runway, the airplane stalled, and subsequently, impacted the ground. He added that at the time of the accident, the wind was from the north at 10 knots gusting to 15 knots.
According to initial responders to the accident site, the airplane's left wing was "destroyed," and the landing gear separated from the airplane. Additionally, the engine was displaced aft beneath the airplane's fuselage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N497RP
- Reported as
- Page Rans S-7
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 001
- Airframe hours
- 302
- Engine
- Rotax 912UL, 80 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ralph W. Page
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · March 15, 2002 · 37 hours before
- Departed
- 6R1 · Welsh, LA
- Destination
- 3R7 · Jennings, LA
- Airport
- 6R1 · Welsh, runway 36, grass/turf
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
- 46
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- March 25, 2002
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 386 total · 302 in this make and model · 386 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 10° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.88 inHg
- Observed at
- LCH, 15 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.