Pilot Debrief

SACREY W MICHAEL ZENAIR CH near Fincastle, VA — 2008-08-22

Final reportNYC08CA294
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Date
2008-08-22
Location
Fincastle, VA, USA
Airport
VA04
Aircraft
SACREY W MICHAEL ZENAIR CH
Registration
N404BB
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's inadvertent premature rotation during takeoff.

NTSB narrative

The pilot of the amateur-built Zenair CH 701SP was departing from a turf runway. He reported that he pulled the control stick back too far in an effort to reduce the weight on the nose wheel, which resulted in the airplane becoming airborne prematurely. The airplane did not have enough airspeed for the pilot to be able to maintain directional control. It turned left, descended, and struck trees located off the left side of the runway. He did not report any mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane, nor were any found during post-accident examination.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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