# NTSB FTW88DRA10: New Rutan LONG-EZE, N331LB, Friendswood, TX, May 1, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: May 1, 1988, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Friendswood, TX
- Coordinates: 29.510454, -95.189208 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5105&lon=-95.1892&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 28, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22479
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88DRA10
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22479/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88DRA10

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Abrupt maneuver, takeoff
  - rotation - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff
- Complete gear collapsed, takeoff
  - landing gear,main gear - overload
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
- Nose over, takeoff

## Analysis

THE PILOT OVERROTATED THE AIRCRAFT ON TAKEOFF TO A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, THEN OVERCONTROLLED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO GET THE NOSE DOWN. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN NOSE GEAR FIRST AND ALL THREE LANDING GEARS COLLAPSED, A WING SHEARED OFF, AND THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OVER INVERTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N331LB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N331LB-1988-12-14), registration cancelled 1988-12-14, S/N 1151 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NEW RUTAN LONG-EZE (RUTAN LONG)
- Registry model: [New Leo RUTAN LONG-EZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/new-leo-rutan-long-eze) (registry code 05690B6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1151
- Airframe hours: 28
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: New Leo
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, March 1, 1988, 28 hours before
- Departed: TO2, FRIENDSWOOD, TX
- Airport: T02, Friendswood, runway 14, 4,322 × 70 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 27,170 total, 28 in this make and model, 27,170 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19880501011149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880501011149A), May 1, 1988: Amtrru VARIEZELONG, Friendswood, TX, Substantial damage. Over rotated on takeoff. Tried to correct by excessive pitch down. Impacted runway,collapsed nose gear and flipped.

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.