- Date
- July 27, 2016, 07:15 local (13:15 UTC)
- Place
- Alamosa, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5690FAlon A2
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Abnormal runway contact
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 31, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20160727011649A
- Case key
- 93695
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 aircraft control during takeoff on an uneven runway surface, which resulted in it becoming airborne prematurely, an aerodynamic stall, and impact with terrain.
Findings · 4
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 the takeoff roll from a private, dirt airstrip the airplane encountered a bump and became airborne prematurely. The pilot further reported that he attempted to reduce the angle of attack, but the left wing aerodynamically stalled and the airplane impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, left wing, right wing and aileron, and right vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll from a private, dirt airstrip the airplane encountered a bump and became airborne prematurely. The pilot further reported that he attempted to reduce the angle of attack, but the left wing aerodynamically stalled and the airplane impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, left wing, right wing and aileron, and right vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5690F
- Reported as
- Alon A2 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- A-190
- Built
- 1966
- Airframe hours
- 2,337.5
- Engine
- Continental C-90, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 13, 2016
- Departed
- 2CO2 · Alamosa, CO
- Destination
- ALS · Alamosa, CO
- Airport
- 2CO2 · Las Arenas Earth And Sky Obser, runway 20, 2,700 × 40 ft, dirt
- Equipment
- Electronic flight bag or handheld device
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
- 63
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 20, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 1,231 total · 1,175 in this make and model · 1,145 as pilot in command · 11 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.39 inHg
- Observed at
- KALS, 11 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 3, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.0 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.