# NTSB GAA16LA046: U-Fly-It Aerolite 103, Midland, VA, November 8, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 8, 2015, 09:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: Midland, VA - Coordinates: 38.584167, -77.708335 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5842&lon=-77.7083&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Prior to flight: Aircraft loading event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION - NTSB case key (mKey): 92320 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92320/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92320 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16LA046 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to attain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle-of-attack during takeoff with the airplane’s center of gravity aft of its limit, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact 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: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: cG/weight distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: weight/balance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft loading event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that the accident flight was his first flight in the ultralight airplane. He reported that, after he applied full power for takeoff, the airplane pitched up at a steep angle and that he then immediately reduced the power. A witness reported that, after the airplane pitched up, it climbed steeply and then stalled. The airplane then pitched down, impacted the runway, and flipped over. The airplane was consumed by a postcrash fire. Calculations using the airplane's performance data showed that its center of gravity (CG) exceeded the aft CG limit, which reduced the stall speed and led to an aerodynamic stall and likely increased the pitch during takeoff. It would have been difficult for the pilot to recover from the stall at low altitude due to the aft CG. ## Factual narrative On November 8, 2015, about 0940 eastern standard time, an unregistered Aerolite 103 airplane impacted terrain during takeoff from the Warrenton-Fauquier Airport (KHWY) Warrenton, Virginia. The pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a visual flight rules personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that this was his first flight in the airplane. He reported that he applied full power for takeoff, the airplane pitched up at a steep angle and he immediately reduced the power. The airplane pitched down, and impacted the runway. A witness reported that the airplane lifted off of the runway, pitched up and climbed steeply until it aerodynamically stalled and pitched down "violently". The witness further reported that following the aerodynamic stall, the airplane descended steeply and impacted the runway in a nose down attitude, flipped over, and caught fire. The airplane was consumed by a postcrash fire. The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector assigned to investigate the accident, provided the official weight and balance for the airplane, which he obtained from the manufacturer. Using data provided by the FAA and the manufacturer, the calculated center of gravity exceeded the aft center of gravity limit. The accident airplane had a gross empty weight of 301 pounds, which exceeded the 254 pound gross weight limit for Code of Federal Regulations Part 103 aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: U-FLY-IT Aerolite 103 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: UL1492 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 9 - Engines: Hirth F23 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: None - Departed: HWY, MIDLAND, VA - Destination: HWY, MIDLAND, VA - Airport: HWY, Warrenton-Fauquier, runway 33, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Airframe parachute, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review September 23, 2005; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 257 total, 0 in this make and model, 196 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.45 inHg - Observed at: KHWY ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 7, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92320. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437352&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 271 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437353&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - Factory Weight and Balance Worksheet Aerolite 103 (item 3, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437355&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Factory%20Weight%20and%20Balance%20Worksheet%20Aerolite%20103-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437357&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.