# NTSB WPR20CA195: Capella XLS, N18XX, Liberty, UT, June 24, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 24, 2020, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Liberty, UT - Coordinates: 41.316387, -111.847778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3164&lon=-111.8478&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101493 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA195 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101493/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101493 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA195 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a fence post during the initial climb. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Brooks Dale C XLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05612K0), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Brooks Dale C XLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=05612K0), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Brooks Dale C XLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05612K0), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Brooks Dale C XLS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05612K0), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane departing for the first time from the 750-ft-long, private grass field. During the initial climb, the right main landing gear contacted a steel fence post at the end of the runway. The airplane pitched nose down, yawed, and rolled slightly to the right. The pilot corrected with left aileron and rudder control, but the airplane cartwheeled and impacted a small shed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N18XX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N18XX-2021-10-09), registration cancelled 2021-10-09, S/N 1, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CAPELLA XLS - Registry model: [Brooks Dale C XLS](https://openairdocs.org/model/brooks-dale-c-xls) (registry code 05612K0) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 350 - Engines: Rotax ULS 912 100 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 3, 2020, 5 hours before - Departed: Liberty, UT - Destination: Liberty, UT - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 18, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 107 total, 2.4 in this make and model, 66.9 as pilot in command, 23.3 in the last 90 days, 16.8 in the last 30 days, 1.3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KOGD, 10 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 20200624008429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200624008429A), Jun 24, 2020: Brooks Dale C XLS, Liberty, UT, Substantial damage. Aircraft was departing a private airstrip by Liberty, UT. The pilot had not flown off this strip before. Just after rotation the aircraft struck a fence and… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 6, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101493. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 713 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485939&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Memorandum (item 2, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485940&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Memorandum-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 212 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485941&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.