- Date
- August 29, 2015, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Stow, MA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N534ACAir Creation USA Skypper
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Roll over
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 3, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20150829014559A
- Case key
- 91948
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 student pilot's improper directional control inputs during the takeoff roll, resulting in a roll over and collision with terrain.
Findings · 3
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 flight instructor in the weight shift control aircraft reported that during the takeoff roll on an asphalt runway, the pilot receiving instruction over-controlled the steering pedals and the aircraft tipped over. The instructor stated that the accident sequence occurred instantly and that he did not have time to apply corrective measures. The weight shift control aircraft sustained substantial damage to the keel, control frame, and leading edge tube. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The flight instructor in the weight shift control aircraft reported that during the takeoff roll on an asphalt runway, the pilot receiving instruction over-controlled the steering pedals and the aircraft tipped over. The instructor stated that the accident sequence occurred instantly and that he did not have time to apply corrective measures. The weight shift control aircraft sustained substantial damage to the keel, control frame, and leading edge tube. The flight instructor reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N534AC
- Reported as
- Air Creation USA Skypper (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Weight-shift
- Serial number
- T14018
- Built
- 2014
- Airframe hours
- 160
- Engine
- Rotax ULS/912, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Air America
- Registered owner
- Air America
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 14, 2015 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- 8MA4 · Stow, MA
- Destination
- 6B6 · Stow, MA
- Airport
- 6B6 · Minute Man Air Field, runway 21, 2,770 × 48 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Airframe parachute
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
- 55
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 27, 2015
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 17,500 total · 2 in this make and model · 150 in the last 90 days
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 68
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Flight engineer, Sport Pilot, Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 1, 2014
- Seat
- Rear
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 23,000 total · 900 in this make and model · 40 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.11 inHg
- Observed at
- KFIT, 12 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 23, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.6 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.