SEA06LA064

NTSB accident investigation · Sessi Midget Mustang SK-1 · Everett, WA · March 12, 2006

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
March 12, 2006, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
Place
Everett, WA
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N202Sessi Midget Mustang SK-1
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report October 3, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA/FSDO
FAA report
20060312003779A
Case key
63340

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot did not abort the takeoff and subsequently did not maintain aircraft control during the initial takeoff climb. The installation of the wrong propeller assembly and inadequate maintenance were factors.

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.

Loss of control - in flightTakeoff - initial climb
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Propeller system/accessories - incorrectFactor
Aborted takeoff - not performedPilot in commandCause
Maintenance,installation - inadequateOther maintenance personnelFactor
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The pilot reported that he just purchased this aircraft and this was his first flight in the aircraft to fly it back home to Texas. The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll from runway 34 left, the engine was running smooth. Full throttle was applied and at approximately 70 mph, lift off occurred and the aircraft entered a nose high attitude and began a continuous stall buffet. The pilot pitched the nose down to gain airspeed several times. Each time he pulled the stick back it would stall. The pilot stated that the aircraft attained about 30 to 35 feet above ground level, and while he was scanning the engine instruments, the aircraft drifted to the left of the runway. The pilot applied "hard right aileron to avoid hitting glide slope antenna..." The aircraft stalled and impacted the terrain next to the runway in an uncontrolled attitude with full throttle. The pilot stated that this was also the first flight for this aircraft since a new wood propeller had been put on, after an earlier event prior to the purchase, in which the original propeller had been damaged. The pilot indicated that the wrong pitch and diameter propeller had been used and the aircraft was signed off as airworthy without having been test flown. The propeller blades were destroyed during the crash sequence.

Factual narrative

On March 12, 2006, at 1500 Pacific standard time, an experimental Sessi Midget Mustang SK-1, N202, recently purchased and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with the terrain during takeoff from Snohomish County Airport (Paine Field), Everett, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the intended cross country flight. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight's intended destination was to Caldwell, Idaho.

The pilot reported that he just purchased this aircraft and this was his first flight in the aircraft to fly it back home to Texas. The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll from runway 34 left, the engine was running smooth. Full throttle was applied and at approximately 70 mph, lift off occurred and the aircraft entered a nose high attitude and began a continuous stall buffet. The pilot pitched the nose down to gain airspeed several times. Each time he pulled the stick back it would stall. The pilot stated that the aircraft attained about 30 to 35 feet above ground level, and while he was scanning the engine instruments, the aircraft drifted to the left of the runway. The pilot applied "hard right aileron to avoid hitting glide slope antenna..." The aircraft stalled and impacted the terrain next to the runway in an uncontrolled attitude with full throttle.

The pilot stated that this was also the first flight for this aircraft since a new wood propeller had been put on, after an earlier event prior to the purchase, in which the original propeller had been damaged. The pilot indicated that the wrong pitch and diameter propeller had been used and the aircraft was signed off as airworthy without having been test flown.

The propeller blades were destroyed during the crash sequence.

Aircraft

Registration
N202
Reported as
Sessi Midget Mustang SK-1
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
501
Airframe hours
1,198
Engine
Lycoming O-235-L2C, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Monty M. Brittain
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Condition · February 1, 2006 · 0.5 hours before
Departed
PAE · Everett, WA
Destination
EUL · Caldwell, ID
Airport
PAE · Snohomish Co (Paine Fld), runway 34L, 9,010 × 150 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
40
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3
Last flight review
November 1, 2005
Seat
Front
Flight hours
5,000 total · 0 in this make and model · 5,000 as pilot in command · 120 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
46 °F, dew point 32 °F
Altimeter
30.01 inHg
Observed at
PAE

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.