- Date
- May 8, 2009, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Peach Springs, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N11LFFuhrmann-Super Emeraude Stretched
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 13, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20090508012179A
- Case key
- 73796
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 airplane's encounter with turbulence after takeoff, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with terrain.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that during the initial takeoff and climb from Runway 23 he encountered "severe clear air turbulence" about midway down the runway. He regained control and continued the climb. Towards the end of the runway, at 300 to 400 feet above ground level, the airplane encountered more "clear air turbulence which took the airplane south of the runway and all the way to the ground." Local law enforcement reported seeing dust devils and whirlwinds in the area after the accident. The pilot reported that the winds were from 230 degrees at 15 knots. He stated that there was no mechanical failure or malfunction with the airplane's flight control system or engine prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during the initial takeoff and climb from runway 23, he encountered "severe clear air turbulence" about midway down the runway. He regained control and continued the climb. Towards the end of the runway, at 300 to 400 feet above ground level (agl), the airplane encountered more "clear air turbulence which took the airplane south of the runway and all the way to the ground." Local law enforcement reported seeing dust devils and whirlwinds in the area after the accident. The pilot reported that the winds were from 230 degrees at 15 knots. He stated that there was no mechanical failure or malfunction with the airplane's flight control system or engine prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N11LF
- Reported as
- Fuhrmann-Super Emeraude Stretched
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 001
- Engine
- Lycoming O-290 SERIES, 140 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- William R. Little
- Registered owner
- William R. Little
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- L37 · Peach Springs, AZ
- Destination
- T65 · Weslaco, TX
- Airport
- L37 · Peach Tree Springs, runway 23, 5,100 × 45 ft, gravel
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
- 61
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 11, 2009
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 142 total · 19 in this make and model · 80 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Observed at
- IGM, 37 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.8 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.