- Date
- September 6, 2017, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Dunkirk, NY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N1214JChancey Gerry M RV-12
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA/ FSDO
- FAA report
- 20170906017639A
- Case key
- 96124
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 lateral/bank control during takeoff in crosswind conditions.
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
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that, immediately after takeoff, the airplane encountered a wind gust, and the right wing dipped. Subsequently, the airplane drifted to the right, and the right wing impacted terrain and a taxiway sign. He added that he "lost control during takeoff." The right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station at the airport reported, about the time of the accident, wind from 270° at 10 knots. The pilot reported the takeoff was from runway 33. The pilot did not submit the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report.
Factual narrative
During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that, immediately after takeoff, the airplane encountered a gust of wind and the right wing dipped. Subsequently, the airplane drifted to the right and the right wing impacted terrain and a taxiway sign. He added that he "lost control during takeoff." The right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report that there were any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station at the airport, about the time of the accident, reported wind from 270° at 10 knots. The pilot reported the takeoff was on runway 33. The pilot failed to submit the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/ Operator Aircraft Accident/ Incident Report.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1214J
- Reported as
- Chancey Gerry M RV-12 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 120054
- Built
- 2011
- Engine
- Rotax, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- DKK · Dunkirk, NY
- Destination
- DKK · Dunkirk, NY
- Airport
- DKK · Chautauqua County/Dunkirk, runway 33, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Unknown
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
- 68
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.89 inHg
- Observed at
- KDKK
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 13, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 189 KB 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.