- Date
- May 8, 2018, 09:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place
- Las Cruces, NM
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N315BDDiven Robert Nieuport 17
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Runway excursion
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 24, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180508014979A
- Case key
- 97210
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 attain a positive climb rate after takeoff in high-density altitude conditions, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
Findings · 3
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
According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped biplane, the purpose of the flight was to accomplish the first test flight of the experimental, amateur-built airplane. During the takeoff roll, the airplane yawed left when the tail lifted. He reported that the airplane became airborne but would not accelerate. The airplane remained in ground effect, exited the runway, collided with rising terrain, and subsequently nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and the left main and subwings. The METAR at the airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 40° at 4 knots. The temperature was 81°F, and the dew point was 27°F. The barometric setting was 30.12 inches of mercury, and the airport elevation was 4,456 ft. The density altitude was 6,742 ft. The pilot used runway 8. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped bi-plane, the purpose of the flight was to accomplish the first test flight of the experimental amateur-built airplane. During the takeoff roll the airplane yawed to the left when the tail lifted. He reported that the airplane became airborne but would not accelerate. The airplane remained in ground effect, collided with rising terrain, and subsequently nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and the left main and sub-wings. The METAR at the airport reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 04° at 4 knots. The temperature was 81°F and the dew point was 27°F. The barometric setting was 30.12Hg and the airport elevation was 4,456ft. The density altitude was 6,742ft. The pilot used runway 8. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N315BD
- Reported as
- Diven Robert Nieuport 17 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 046
- Built
- 2018
- Airframe hours
- 0
- Engine
- Subaru EA81, 60 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- LRU · Las Cruces, NM
- Destination
- LRU · Las Cruces, NM
- Airport
- LRU · Las Cruces Intl, runway 08, 6,069 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- None
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
- 58
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Private, Sport Pilot
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Waiver time limited special
- Last flight review
- September 7, 2017
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 71.5 total · 0.1 in this make and model · 28.7 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 40° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- KLRU
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 17, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.9 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.