- Date
- May 2, 1999, 10:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place
- Payson, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2103ZR.M. Bishop Aero Spec 2150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 5, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990502004309A
- Case key
- 46386
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 use of the rudder controls to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in veering off the runway and ground looping in tall vegetation.
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
While taxiing the conventional gear airplane onto the runway, the pilot checked the windsock for winds and noted a calm indication. After lifting the tail off the runway on the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot attempted to return the airplane to centerline with rudder and brake inputs, but was unsuccessful. He noted that he was at rotation speed and made an unsuccessful attempt to takeoff in ground effect. The airplane departed the runway at a high rate of speed into a grass field, and subsequently ground looped before coming to rest.
Factual narrative
On May 2, 1999, at 1045 hours mountain standard time, an experimental R.M. Bishop Aero Spec 2150, N2103Z, veered off runway 24 and ground looped during the takeoff ground roll at the Payson, Arizona, airport. During the accident sequence, the airplane encountered tall brush vegetation. The airplane, operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and one passenger, the sole occupants, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was scheduled to terminate at Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona, on the day of the accident.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that as he taxied the conventional gear airplane onto runway 24, he checked the windsock to the south and it displayed a calm indication. The pilot stated that as he brought the tail up on the takeoff roll, the airplane began to yaw to the left. He attempted to apply right rudder input to return the airplane to centerline. The pilot stated that as he approached the side of the runway, he noticed the airspeed indicator at 60 knots, and he attempted to takeoff in ground effect. He reported that he was unable to get the airplane airborne and went into the grass at a high rate of speed. The pilot stated that he attempted to regain control of the airplane with rudder input and light braking; however, the airplane spun around in the brush left of the taxiway before it came to a stop.
The closest weather reporting station 57 miles northwest of the accident site at Prescott, Arizona, was reporting winds as variable at 3 knots.
The pilot had a total of 9 hours in the experimental airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2103Z
- Reported as
- R.M. Bishop Aero Spec 2150 (AERO SPEC)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 890001
- Airframe hours
- 919
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2G, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Alpha Wings
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · August 8, 1998 · 36 hours before
- Departed
- E69
- Destination
- FFZ · Mesa, AZ
- Airport
- E69 · Payson, runway 24, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 39
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 384 total · 9 in this make and model · 328 as pilot in command · 16 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PRC, 57 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.