- Date
- April 6, 1997, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Grants Pass, OR
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4GJHutton Rand Robinson KR-2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 14, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970406045369A
- Case key
- 42583
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 failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions, his failure to maintain directional control on takeoff, and his failure to abort the takeoff. Factors contributing to the accident are gusty crosswinds.
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
The solo student pilot decided to take off in a homebuilt airplane equipped with a tail wheel. Gusting crosswind conditions prevailed at the time of the takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the airplane became airborne, veered off the runway, then settled onto the ground again. The pilot elected to continue the takeoff and the airplane impacted thick vegetation immediately after lifting off the ground the second time. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were reported.
Factual narrative
On April 6, 1997, about 1430 Pacific daylight time, N4GJ, a home built Hutton Rand Robinson KR-2 airplane, impacted trees during takeoff and was substantially damaged at Grants Pass, Oregon. The student pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91.
According to an FAA aviation safety inspector, the airplane veered off the runway and impacted vegetation immediately after lifting off at the Grants Pass Airport. The pilot and witnesses indicated that the airplane encountered strong cross winds during the takeoff. No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were reported.
In a written statement to the Safety Board (attached), the pilot stated: "On takeoff as the tail came up the craft became [airborne]. The craft then settled on the [ground], however off the runway. I attempted to continue the takeoff but did not realize I was on the back side of the power curve. I eventually hit a [manzanita] bush."
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident, and he stated "be [programmed] to [abort] takeoff" in the "Recommendation" section of the NTSB Pilot/Operator Form 6120.1/2 that he submitted (attached).
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4GJ
- Reported as
- Hutton Rand Robinson KR-2
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1620
- Airframe hours
- 44
- Engine
- Volkswagen VW-1865, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Hitt, Charles L.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Airport
- 3S8 · Grants Pass Airport, runway 30, 3,999 × 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
- 59
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 123 total · 38 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 8 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,200 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SXT, 6 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.
Other investigations on N4GJ · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.