- Date
- April 29, 2014, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Rexburg, ID
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- C-FOWDElemdorf 1002
- Defining event
- Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 18, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- Case key
- 89148
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 loss of directional control and early rotation during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the pilots to exercise adequate communication techniques.
Findings · 3
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 he was in the left seat and a pilot rated passenger, who was a certified flight instructor (CFI), was in the right seat. The flight instructor stated that his seat was positioned aft such that he could not reach the rudder pedals. The pilot positioned the airplane on runway 35 for takeoff and said that he rotated a little bit early (70 knots) during the takeoff roll but it was manageable. The flight instructor stated that the airplane swerved left and right before the pilot rotated. The flight instructor called out to bring the throttle back, and described the remaining portion of the flight as porpoising. Both pilots reported that there was confusion in the cockpit. A witness said that he observed the airplane rotate early, enter a steep nose high attitude, and then begin to settle while the elevator was moving up and down erratically. After skidding for 497 feet the airplane went off the end of the runway and into brush causing substantial damage to some fuselage bulkheads and the right wing spar. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that he was in the left seat and a pilot rated passenger, who was a certified flight instructor (CFI), was in the right seat. The flight instructor stated that his seat was positioned aft such that he could not reach the rudder pedals. The pilot positioned the airplane on runway 35 for takeoff and said that he rotated a little bit early (70 knots) during the takeoff roll but it was manageable. The flight instructor stated that the airplane swerved left and right before the pilot rotated. The flight instructor called out to bring the throttle back, and described the remaining portion of the flight as porpoising. Both pilots reported that there was confusion in the cockpit. A witness said that he observed the airplane rotate early, enter a steep nose high attitude, and then begin to settle while the elevator was moving up and down erratically. After skidding for 497 feet the airplane went off the end of the runway and into brush causing substantial damage to some fuselage bulkheads and the right wing spar. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- C-FOWD
- Reported as
- Elemdorf 1002
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1002
- Built
- 2002
- Airframe hours
- 295
- Engine
- Continental O-470, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Don Thompson
- Registered owner
- Don Thompson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · July 28, 2013
- Departed
- KRXE · Rexburg, ID
- Destination
- CEZ3 · Cooking Lake
- Airport
- KRXE · Rexburg-Madison, runway 35, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 63
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 465 total · 37 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,700 ft broken
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.07 inHg
- Observed at
- KRXE
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.4 MB in all.