# NTSB WPR19TA009: Kreling Supercat, Three Rivers, MI, October 9, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report - Date: October 9, 2018, 19:04 local (23:04 UTC) - Place: Three Rivers, MI - Coordinates: 41.961112, -85.586112 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9611&lon=-85.5861&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 16, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98511 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19TA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98511/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98511 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19TA009 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain the proper pitch attitude and adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that he had just completed constructing the unregistered experimental, amateur-built airplane, and during takeoff for the airplane's first flight from the grass airstrip, he failed to maintain the proper pitch attitude and adequate airspeed, and the airplane experienced an aerodynamic stall. The airplane struck the ground nose down just beyond the end of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On October 9, 2018, at 1904 eastern daylight time, an unregistered experimental amateur-built Supercat airplane collided with terrain after takeoff from Three Rivers Municipal Dr Haines Airport, Three Rivers, Michigan. The private pilot sustained serious injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The airplane was operated by the pilot/builder under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a local personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.The pilot reported that he recently completed construction of the airplane, and although he had previously performed multiple high-speed taxi tests and "crow hops", this was to be the first flight. He stated that the takeoff runway was a 1,000-ft-long grass strip, adjacent and parallel to Runway 9. After warming up the engine, he taxied the airplane into position, and initiated the takeoff roll. The airplane lifted off after traveling about 1/4 of the runway length, and he stated that during the initial climb he failed to maintain the correct pitch attitude and adequate airspeed, and the airplane experienced an aerodynamic stall. The airplane struck the ground nose-down just beyond the end of the runway. The airplane was equipped with a Rotax 447 series two-stroke engine. The pilot indicated that he planned to register the airplane with the Federal Aviation Administration once he had established that it could be flown. He reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Kreling Supercat - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: None - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 0 - Engines: Rotax 447 38 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: None - Departed: HAI, Three Rivers, MI - Destination: HAI, Three Rivers, MI - Airport: HAI, Three Rivers Muni Dr Haines, runway 09L, 1,000 × 1,000 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 158.1 total, 0.1 in this make and model, 120.4 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KHAI ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98511. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470329&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470330&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Photo - Airplane at Accident Site (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40470331&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Airplane%20at%20Accident%20Site-Master.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.