# NTSB MIA01LA114: Arnet Pereyra Aventura II, N407EC, Rockledge, FL, April 7, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 7, 2001, 08:55 local (12:55 UTC) - Place: Rockledge, FL - Coordinates: 28.30949, -80.719139 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3095&lon=-80.7191&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 19, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52042 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52042/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA114 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during takeoff/initial climb, which resulted in an inadvertent stall, an uncontrolled descent, and collision with the ground. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's distraction with the landing gear system. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - landing gear - malfunction - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed(vso) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot said that the takeoff seemed normal, and at an altitude of about 75 feet he tried to retract the gear, and it moved half way and then stuck. He said he tried several times with no luck, and then he made a slight left turn in order not to overrun the ultra light traffic, which had taken off ahead of him, but kept struggling with the gear, and had briefly looked between the seats at the gear to see if he could see an obstruction, and the only memory he had after that was looking straight down, while in a full stall. A witness said that the aircraft was departing the airport and it entered a steep bank of about 60 degrees, while in a left turn. The witness further stated that while less than 100 feet above the ground the aircraft stalled, snap rolled to the left, and crashed nearly straight down. ## Factual narrative On April 7, 2001, about 0855 eastern daylight time, an Arnet Pereyra Aventura II, N407EC, registered and operated by Arnet Pereyra, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed during climbout from Rockledge Airpark, Rockledge, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot, the sole occupant aboard received serious injuries, and the aircraft incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he had been asked by Arnet Pereyra, the manufacturer of the aircraft, to fly the accident aircraft to Lakeland, Florida for Sun-n-Fun. The pilot further stated that the takeoff had seemed normal, and at an altitude of about 75 feet he tried to retract the gear, and it moved half way and then stuck. The pilot said he tried several times with no luck, and then he made a slight left turn in order not to overrun the ultra light traffic, which had taken off ahead of him. He said he kept struggling with the gear, and had briefly looked between the seats at the gear to see if he could see an obstruction, and the only memory he had after that was looking straight down, while in a full stall. The pilot stated that other than the landing gear's failure to retract, the only other aircraft system malfunction had been the engine that he could not get to cease operating, through the use of the ignition switch. The pilot said that he had to use the primer to stop the engine from operating earlier. According to a commercial-rated pilot who saw the accident, the aircraft was departing from the Rockledge Airpark, and it entered a steep bank, of about 60 degrees, while in a left turn. The pilot-rated witness further stated that the aircraft was at an altitude of less than 100 feet above ground level, and the engine sounded as if it was at full throttle. The witness said that just as it was over his head, the aircraft stalled, snap rolled to the left, and crashed nearly straight down. According to the witness, he ran to the crash site which was about 100 to 150 feet away, and was the first person on the scene, and the aircraft engine was still operating when he arrived. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N407EC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N407EC-2015-05-08), registration cancelled 2015-05-08, S/N AP0011, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Arnet Pereyra Aventura II - Registry model: [Pereyra Arnet AVENTURA II](https://openairdocs.org/model/pereyra-arnet-aventura-ii) (registry code 05602DI) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: AP0011 - Airframe hours: 410 - Engines: Bombardier Rotax 912 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Arnet Pereyra - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 26, 2001, 2.3 hours before - Departed: X65, Rockledge, FL - Destination: LAL, Lakeland, FL - Airport: X65, Rockledge Airpark, runway 18, 2,000 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 24, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 500 total, 300 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: TIX, 25 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010407009009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010407009009A), Apr 7, 2001: Amtr AVENTURAII, Rockledge, FL, No damage. (-23) Mr. Babcock took off from Rockledge airpark, Rockledge, Florida at/about 0930 hours (local) April 07, 2001. The aircraft stalled on take off at… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.