# NTSB GAA16CA180: Lamb-Robin Bowers FLY Baby, N359RJ, Guthrie, OK, April 3, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 2, 2016, 20:05 local (Apr 3, 2016, 01:05 UTC) - Place: Guthrie, OK - Coordinates: 35.851387, -97.416114 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8514&lon=-97.4161&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 1, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA Will Rogers FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92983 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA180 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92983/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92983 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA180 ## Probable cause The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Lamb-Robin BOWERS FLY BABY 1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1410172), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Lamb-Robin BOWERS FLY BABY 1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=1410172), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Lamb-Robin BOWERS FLY BABY 1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1410172), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Lamb-Robin BOWERS FLY BABY 1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1410172), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Lamb-Robin BOWERS FLY BABY 1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=1410172), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Lamb-Robin BOWERS FLY BABY 1A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1410172), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the initial climb, the airplane aerodynamically stalled. He reported that he was unable to recover the airplane due to the low altitude and the airplane impacted a field off the departure end of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, right wing, and right elevator. The pilot verified that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. As a safety recommendation, the pilot reported that using full power on takeoff would have prevented the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration has published the Airplane Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-3A (2004). This handbook discusses stalls and states in part: The key to stall awareness is the pilot's ability to visualize the wing's angle of attack in any particular circumstance, and thereby be able to estimate his/her margin of safety above stall. This is a learned skill that must be acquired early in flight training and carried through the pilot's entire flying career. The pilot must understand and appreciate factors such as airspeed, pitch attitude, load factor, relative wind, power setting, and aircraft configuration in order to develop a reasonably accurate mental picture of the wing's angle of attack at any particular time. It is essential to flight safety that a pilot takes into consideration this visualization of the wing's angle of attack prior to entering any flight maneuver. Stall accidents usually result from an inadvertent stall at a low altitude in which a recovery was not accomplished prior to contact with the surface. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the initial climb, the airplane aerodynamically stalled. He reported that he was unable to recover the airplane due to the low altitude and the airplane impacted a field off the departure end of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, right wing, and right elevator. The pilot verified that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. As a safety recommendation, the pilot reported that using full power on takeoff would have prevented the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration has published the Airplane Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-3A (2004). This handbook discusses stalls and states in part: The key to stall awareness is the pilot's ability to visualize the wing's angle of attack in any particular circumstance, and thereby be able to estimate his/her margin of safety above stall. This is a learned skill that must be acquired early in flight training and carried through the pilot's entire flying career. The pilot must understand and appreciate factors such as airspeed, pitch attitude, load factor, relative wind, power setting, and aircraft configuration in order to develop a reasonably accurate mental picture of the wing's angle of attack at any particular time. It is essential to flight safety that a pilot takes into consideration this visualization of the wing's angle of attack prior to entering any flight maneuver. Stall accidents usually result from an inadvertent stall at a low altitude in which a recovery was not accomplished prior to contact with the surface. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N359RJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N359RJ-2017-04-03), registration cancelled 2017-04-03, S/N RL-1 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LAMB-ROBIN BOWERS FLY BABY (1A) - Registry model: [Lamb-Robin BOWERS FLY BABY 1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/lamb-robin-bowers-fly-baby-1a) (registry code 1410172) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: RL-1 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 324 - Engines: Continental A75-8F 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 13, 2015 - Departed: GOK, Guthrie, OK - Destination: GOK, Guthrie, OK - Airport: GOK, Guthrie-Edmond Rgnl, runway 34, 5,001 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 10, 2014; seat: single; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,316 total, 174 in this make and model, 2,316 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KGOK ## 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 20160403003329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160403003329A), Apr 3, 2016: Lamb-Robin BOWERS FLY BABY 1A, Guthrie, OK, Substantial damage. Aircraft stalled on takeoff climb. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 25, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92983. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440365&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photographs (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 782 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40440366&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photographs%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.