Pilot Debrief

Stanton DR-1 near Plain City, OH — 2016-09-04

Final reportCEN16LA353
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Date
2016-09-04
Location
Plain City, OH, USA
Airport
NONE
Aircraft
Stanton DR-1
Registration
N500PY
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that the experimental, amateur-built airplane inadvertently became airborne during a high-speed taxi test. Two witnesses said that the airplane was in level flight about 200 ft above ground level and heading toward a tree line when the engine lost power. The airplane abruptly nosed straight down, struck a backyard playground set and hickory trees, and impacted the ground. The airplane came to rest upright about 5 ft from the initial impact crater and about 1/2 mile from the departure end of the pilot's private runway. The engine was not examined, and the pilot did not respond to inquiries regarding the accident.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Conducting high-speed taxi tests instead of a controlled flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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