ARION AIRCRAFT LLC LIGHTNING LS-1
Ghent, NY — April 30, 2012
Event Information
| Date | April 30, 2012 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA12CA313 |
| Event ID | 20120501X60639 |
| Location | Ghent, NY |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 42.35028, -73.63695 |
| Airport | Kline Kill Airport |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | ARION AIRCRAFT LLC |
| Model | LIGHTNING LS-1 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion.
Full Narrative
According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered a bump in the grass runway that forced it to lift off the runway several knots under rotation speed. The airplane descended to the left, impacted trees off the left side of the runway, and came to rest in a swampy area resulting in substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the runway after the accident and found it to be in satisfactory condition, with no evidence of bumps.
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.