- Date
- February 4, 2001, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Marana, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N1296Storey MK 7
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 25, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20010204014109A
- Case key
- 51432
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 inadequate preflight preparation with regards to runway choice, terrain, and performance capabilities of the airplane.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During a forced landing from the initial climb after takeoff, the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that the available runway had an upslope gradient and upon realizing there was not sufficent distance to clear terrain, decided to settle in a clearing.
Factual narrative
On February 4, 2001, at 1400 hours mountain standard time, an amateur-built experimental Storey MK 7, N1296, collided with terrain during takeoff and initial climb from a glider port in Marana, Arizona. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, received only minor injuries. The airplane was being operated by the owner/pilot as a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight was originating from the El Tiro Glider Port near Marana, and was en route to Eloy, Arizona, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed.
According to the statement given by the pilot to Safety Board investigators, he took off in the direction of rising desert terrain and was unable to climb at a sufficient rate to clear it. The airplane was set down in a clearing. The airplane hit a hole during the landing phase and flipped over.
The pilot had logged 3,000 hours of total flight time with 15 hours in the model, and was also a certified flight instructor.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1296
- Reported as
- Storey MK 7
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 2
- Airframe hours
- 136
- Engine
- Volkswagen 1600CC, 50 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Donald K. Domeyer
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2000 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- PVT · Marana, AZ
- Destination
- E60 · Eloy, AZ
- Airport
- PVT · El Tiro Glider Port, runway 26, 3,000 × 120 ft, dirt
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
- 65
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- August 16, 2000
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 3,000 total · 15 in this make and model · 2,900 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.13 inHg
- Observed at
- TUS
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.