- Date
- August 8, 2014, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Lysite, WY
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1765PPiper PA 18
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 20, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20140808013269A
- Case key
- 89845
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 ensure the airplane was configured for takeoff.
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 reported that he did not have the airplane configured properly for takeoff. During the takeoff roll from a field, he took his hand off the throttle to extend a notch of flaps. The throttle lever subsequently moved out and power was reduced. The pilot did not recognize the power reduction, or that the elevator trim was set to a nose down attitude before the airplane traveled off the runway, down an embankment, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the rudder. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he did not have the airplane configured properly for takeoff. During the takeoff roll from a field, he took his hand off the throttle to extend a notch of flaps. The throttle lever subsequently moved out and power was reduced. The pilot did not recognize the power reduction, or that the elevator trim was set to a nose down attitude before the airplane traveled off the runway, down an embankment, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the rudder. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1765P
- Reported as
- Piper PA 18 (180)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-4090
- Built
- 1954
- Airframe hours
- 3,252
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-C4P, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Hendry Robert
- Registered owner
- Hendry Robert
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 10, 2014
- Departed
- Lysite, WY
- Destination
- WRL · Worland, WY
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
- 57
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 13, 2013
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 3,415 total · 69 in this make and model · 3,415 as pilot in command · 67 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.09 inHg
- Observed at
- RIW, 35 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 10, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 736 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.