- Date
- September 11, 2015, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Santa Rosa, NM
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N508RMRocci Martignoni JA30 Superstol
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 3, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- Albuquerque FSDO (FAA)
- FAA report
- 20150911015159A
- Case key
- 91986
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 directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion and a ground loop.
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 pilot reported that during takeoff he "lost rudder control" and the airplane exited the runway to the left. During the runway excursion, the airplane ground looped, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted terrain. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during takeoff he "lost rudder control" and the airplane exited the runway to the left. During the runway excursion, the airplane ground looped, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted terrain. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N508RM
- Reported as
- Rocci Martignoni JA30 Superstol
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- JA388-06-14
- Built
- 2015
- Airframe hours
- 54
- Engine
- Rotax 912 ULS, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · June 26, 2015
- Departed
- SXU · Santa Rosa, NM
- Destination
- SXU · Santa Rosa, NM
- Airport
- SXU · Santa Rosa Route 66, runway 08, 4,294 × 60 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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 77
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 8, 2015
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 2,704 total · 24 in this make and model
- Role
- Pilot-rated passenger
- Age
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Unknown
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 4,000 total · 6 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 50° at 12 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.37 inHg
- Observed at
- KLVS, 49 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 30, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.8 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.