- Date
- June 6, 2013, 19:30 local (Jun 7, 2013, 01:30 UTC)
- Place
- Sheridan, WY
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N540THGarland Avipro Bearhawk
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 23, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20130606010119A
- Case key
- 87116
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 maintain airspeed, which resulted in a stall and a loss of aircraft control during the initial takeoff.
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 stated that the purpose of the flight was to return back to his home airport. He configured the airplane for a three-point takeoff and added full power. During the takeoff roll, the airplane began to veer to the left and subsequently became airborne. As the airplane ascended to about 50 feet above ground level (agl), the left wing dropped and subsequently struck the ground. The airplane was substantially damaged when it tumbled in a cartwheel-type maneuver with the right wing flipping over and striking the terrain. The airplane came to rest on its belly in a grassy area adjacent to the taxiway. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He noted that the wind was calm. He thought that the airplane initially veered left because of p-factor and his delay in recognizing this aerodynamic phenomenon.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to return back to his home airport. He configured the airplane for a three-point takeoff and added full power. During the takeoff roll, the airplane began to veer to the left and subsequently became airborne. As the airplane ascended to about 50 feet above ground level (agl), the left wing dropped and subsequently struck the ground. The airplane was substantially damaged when it tumbled in a cartwheel-type maneuver with the right wing flipping over and striking the terrain. The airplane came to rest on its belly in a grassy area adjacent to the taxiway. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He noted that the wind was calm. He thought that the airplane initially veered left because of p-factor and his delay in recognizing this aerodynamic phenomenon.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N540TH
- Reported as
- Garland Avipro Bearhawk
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 029-43-44-590
- Airframe hours
- 81
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540-L35D, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Garland Air LLC
- Registered owner
- Garland Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- SHR · Sheridan, WY
- Destination
- BYG · Buffalo, WY
- Airport
- SHR · Sheridan County Airport, runway 23, 5,000 × 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
- 61
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Flight hours
- 4,326 total · 56 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.20 inHg
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 719 KB 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.