# NTSB WPR12LA122: Bowers Fly Baby 1-A, N41017, Fallbrook, CA, March 4, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 4, 2012, 08:52 local (16:52 UTC) - Place: Fallbrook, CA - Coordinates: 33.354167, -117.250831 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3542&lon=-117.2508&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 28, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 83032 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83032/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83032 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA122 ## Probable cause The pilot did not maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bowers Fly Baby 1-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=14121LB), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Bowers Fly Baby 1-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md?model=14121LB), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: airport structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Bowers Fly Baby 1-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/cases.md?model=14121LB), [All aircraft, 50 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bowers Fly Baby 1-A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=14121LB), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Bowers Fly Baby 1-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=14121LB), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bowers Fly Baby 1-A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=14121LB), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane veered off the left side of the runway during takeoff and struck an elevated runway light located 600 feet from the end of the runway. The airplane traveled over a shallow grass slope, impacted the hangar door nose first, and embedded itself into the hangar. Both wings separated from the fuselage. The pilot, who was seriously injured, could not recall the events of the accident. A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On March 4, 2012, at 0852 Pacific standard time, a Bowers Fly Baby 1-A, N41017, veered off runway 18 and collided with a hangar at Fallbrook Community Airpark, Fallbrook, California. The pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91. The private pilot was seriously injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. No witnesses observed the accident. The airplane was found entangled with the structure of a T-hangar, the nose of the airplane embedded into the hangar, the tail protruding out, left wing broken from the fuselage, and the right wing folded up and over the open cockpit. The pilot was life flighted to a hospital with non life threatening serious injuries. On March 5, a Federal Aviation Administration(FAA)inspector examined the airplane, established control continuity, and found no mechanical anomalies. The inspector also noted that there were no witness marks in the shallow slopped grassy terrain between the edge of the runway and the hanger. About 600 feet from the end of the runway 18, a broken elevated runway edge light was identified. The left wing of the airplane showed evidence of impact damage by a elevated runway edge light. The pilot was interviewed by the FAA inspector, who reported that the pilot could not recall the events of the accident. A witness who arrived on-scene about an hour after the accident stated that at that time there was a modest 8-knot northerly wind. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft/Incident Report Form 6120.1/2. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41017](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41017-2018-01-04), registration cancelled 2018-01-04, S/N 67-13, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOWERS FLY BABY 1-A - Registry model: [Bowers Fly Baby 1-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bowers-fly-baby-1-a) (registry code 14121LB) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 67-13 - Airframe hours: 780 - Engines: CONT MOTOR A65 SERIES 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Stowe James L - Registered owner: Stowe James L - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 11, 2011 - Departed: KL18, Fallbrook, CA - Destination: KL18, Fallbrook, CA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: KL18, Fallbrook Community Airpark, runway 18, 2,160 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review August 12, 2011; seat: single; flight hours: 161 total, 8 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KNFG, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20120304004829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120304004829A), Mar 4, 2012: Bowers Fly Baby 1-A, Fallbrook, CA, Substantial damage. On March 4, 2012, at 0852 pacific standard time, a Bowers Fly Baby 1-A, N41017, veered off runway 18 and collided with a hangar at Fallbrook Community Airpark,… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 16, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83032. 2.0 MB in all. - Witness Statement (item 1, .PDF, 149 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367893&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 216 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367894&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - On scene photo (item 3, .PDF, 816 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367775&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20On%20scene%20photo-Master.PDF - Airplane Maintenance Records (extract) (item 4, .PDF, 798 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40367778&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Maintenance%20Records%20(extract)-Redacted.PDF 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.