# NTSB WPR20CA221: Quickie Q2, N85BJ, Preston, ID, July 11, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 11, 2020, 11:55 local (17:55 UTC) - Place: Preston, ID - Coordinates: 42.106945, -111.912498 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1069&lon=-111.9125&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - 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): 101591 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA221 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101591/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101591 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA221 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff in high density altitude conditions, which resulted in a collision with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to accomplish performance calculations for the atmospheric conditions. ## 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: [Gillespie/Sears Q-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05645WF), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Gillespie/Sears Q-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05645WF), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Gillespie/Sears Q-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=05645WF), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Gillespie/Sears Q-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md?model=05645WF), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Gillespie/Sears Q-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=05645WF), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Gillespie/Sears Q-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05645WF), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the takeoff roll, about two-thirds of the way down the runway at rotation speed of 70 mph, the airplane was not lifting off as normal. At 75 mph nothing was changing so the pilot attempted to place the airplane into ground effect, "something I learned to do in other types but not this plane." The pilot recalled that he added "too much forward stick" and the airplane porpoised, ascended and rolled to the right. The pilot leveled the wings, however, the airplane descended and collided with terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, canard, and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot further reported that he did not accomplish any performance planning for the atmospheric conditions before the flight. At the time of the accident, the density altitude was calculated at 6,977ft. ## Factual narrative The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the takeoff roll, about two-thirds of the way down the runway at rotation speed of 70 mph, the airplane was not lifting off as normal. At 75 mph nothing was changing so the pilot attempted to place the airplane into ground effect, "something I learned to do in other types but not this plane." The pilot recalled that he added "too much forward stick" and the airplane porpoised, ascended and rolled to the right. The pilot leveled the wings, however, the airplane descended and collided with terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, canard, and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot further reported that he did not accomplish any performance planning for the atmospheric conditions before the flight. At the time of the accident, the density altitude was calculated at 6,977ft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N85BJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N85BJ), registered now, S/N 2438 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: QUICKIE Q2 - Registry model: [Gillespie/Sears Q-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/gillespie-sears-q-2) (registry code 05645WF) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Revmaster 2100](https://openairdocs.org/engine/revmaster-2100) (registry code 52550, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2438 - Year built: 2020 - Airframe hours: 1060 - Engines: Revmaster 2100D 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 18, 2020 - Departed: MAN, Nampa, ID - Destination: RKS, Rock Springs, WY - Airport: U10, Preston, runway 21, 3,457 × 50 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Video recording device, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 28, 2020; seat: left; flight hours: 178.1 total, 5 in this make and model, 66 as pilot in command, 35.2 in the last 90 days, 20.3 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: KLGU, 19 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 20200711004819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200711004819A), Jul 11, 2020: Gillespie/Sears Q-2, Preston, ID, Destroyed. The pilot was flying from ann arbor Michigan with his newly purchased aircraft. His only training in the Q2 aircraft was taxiing at low and high speed. He was… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101591. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486852&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486853&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo (item 3, .PDF, 144 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486854&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.