# NTSB SEA08LA024: Titan Tornado I, McMinnville, OR, November 11, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 11, 2007, 15:55 local (23:55 UTC)
- Place: McMinnville, OR
- Coordinates: 45.196388, -123.134445
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1964&lon=-123.1344&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 26, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67084
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA08LA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67084/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08LA024

## Probable cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain an adequate airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff that resulted in an inadvertent stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's unfamiliarity with the accident airplane.

## Analysis

After reaching an airspeed of about 25 to 30 miles per hour, the unregistered airplane lifted off the paved runway and climbed about 30 feet above ground level (agl).  At that point its pitch attitude increased sharply. The non-certificated individual who was flying the airplane said that due to his unfamiliarity with this airplane, he was unable to make flight control inputs that allowed him to maintain control. The airplane slowed to an airspeed below stall speed, rolled over, and descended into the runway surface. There was no evidence of any anomaly or malfunction associated with the airplane's airframe or flight control system.

## Factual narrative

On November 11, 2007, at 1555 Pacific standard time, an unregistered Titan Tornado airplane, serial number 12JBC, impacted the terrain after departing controlled flight during the initial takeoff climb at McMinnville Municipal Airport, McMinnville, Oregon. The non-certificated individual who was piloting the airplane received serious injuries, and the airplane, which was owned by an acquaintance of the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The local 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was being initiated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed.

According to witnesses, after reaching an airspeed of about 25 to 30 miles per hour, the airplane lifted off the surface about 1,200 feet down runway 17. After the airplane had climbed about 30 feet above ground level (agl), its pitch attitude increased sharply, it appeared to stall, and it rolled over and descended into the runway surface.

According to the individual piloting the airplane, he was testing it for the owner. After takeoff, it climbed at a steeper angle than he had expected, and due to his unfamiliarity with this airplane, he was unable to make flight control inputs that allowed him to maintain control. He further stated that after the nose got too high, he could not keep the airplane from rolling over and descending into the runway. The pilot did not submit an NTSB Form 6120.1.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration Investigator who responded to the scene, there was no evidence of any anomaly or malfunction associated with the airplane's airframe or flight control 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
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, unqualified person (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, unqualified person (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, unqualified person (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Titan Aircraft Tornado I
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 12JBC
- Engines: Rotax 503 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James W. Prias
- Departed: KMMV, McMinnville, OR
- Destination: KMMV
- Airport: KMMV, McMinnville Municipal, runway 17, 4,676 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: serious; seat: front

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: KMMV, 25 nm away

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.

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