PIPER PA-18-150

Elizabethton, TN — October 7, 2011

Event Information

DateOctober 7, 2011
Event TypeACC
NTSB NumberERA12CA015
Event ID20111008X33525
LocationElizabethton, TN
CountryUSA
Coordinates36.37111, -82.17333
AirportElizabethton Municipal
Highest InjuryMINR

Aircraft

MakePIPER
ModelPA-18-150
CategoryAIR
FAR Part091
Aircraft DamageSUBS

Conditions

Light ConditionDAYL
WeatherVMC

Injuries

Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
None0
Total Injured2

Event Location

Probable Cause

The failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Full Narrative

The pilot/part owner of the airplane decided to go fly with a pilot friend The preflight inspection and preflight ground run up check went unremarkable. The pilot elected to let the friend fly the airplane. The pilot flying stated that they departed with a short field technique climbing up to 150 feet above ground level (agl). He pushed forward on the flight control stick to lower the nose to a straight and level flight attitude. The airplane began to sink upon completion of the pushover maneuver. He pushed the control stick forward to gain airspeed; throttle at full engine power. The left wing dipped followed by the ring wing, which dropped off sharply. He applied full left rudder and full left aileron, the right wing started to recover; however, there was insufficient altitude and the airplane impacted the ground. Ground witnesses stated that they observe the airplane takeoff and climb in about a 45 degrees nose high attitude. As it gained altitude it struggled to gain airspeed. At its highest point of the climb, about 100 feet agl, the wings dipped to the right and then left; wobbling. The airplane began to nose down toward the right in a steep angle. The wings wobbled again. The nose of the airplane started to rise just before the right wing tip contacted the ground. The airplane then spun 180 degrees coming to a full stop on its right side.

About This NTSB Record

This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.

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