- Date
- May 17, 2017, 20:35 local (May 18, 2017, 00:35 UTC)
- Place
- Findlay, OH
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- UNREGCGS Hawk
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- Case key
- 95215
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 adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
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 of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff, the "wind got more gusty than [he] could handle being too low and slow." The airplane aerodynamically stalled and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located about 5 nautical miles west of the accident airport revealed that, about 42 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 200° at 18 knots, gusting to 28 knots. The takeoff direction is unknown.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff, the "wind got more gusty than [he] could handle being too low and slow". The airplane aerodynamically stalled and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located about 5 nautical miles west of the accident airport reported that, about 42 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 200° at 18 knots, gusting to 28 knots. The takeoff direction is unknown.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- CGS Hawk
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- Unknown
- Built
- 1984
- Airframe hours
- 400
- Engine
- Rotax 503, 45 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- None
- Last inspection
- Unknown · March 1, 2017
- Departed
- 9OH6 · Findlay, OH
- Destination
- 9OH6 · Findlay, OH
- Airport
- 9OH6 · Weaver, runway unkn, 2,200 × 70 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- None
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 79
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 1,100 total · 300 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 18 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.80 inHg
- Observed at
- KFDY, 5 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.7 MB in all.