Pilot Debrief

DOPPELT FREDRIC F F. 8L FALCO near Durango, CO — 2012-07-15

Final reportCEN12CA442
Sign in to save
Date
2012-07-15
Location
Durango, CO, USA
Airport
KDRO
Aircraft
DOPPELT FREDRIC F F. 8L FALCO
Registration
N532FD
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane and the instructor's delayed remedial action.

NTSB narrative

**This report was modified on November 19, 2013. Please see the public docket for this accident to view the original report.** The airplane was being flown by a private pilot, who stated that he had flown the airplane with the previous owner but had not conducted any takeoffs or landings, and a flight instructor who was providing dual instruction. The pilot lost directional control of the airplane during the takeoff ground run, and the airplane subsequently became airborne at too slow of an airspeed. The pilot reduced the power to land the airplane back on the runway. The instructor stated that he told the pilot to lower the nose and to watch the airspeed then took control of the airplane. The instructor lowered the nose, and the pilot increased the power. The instructor stated that the left wing dropped as the airspeed increased, but he was able to level the wings. The right wing then dropped "very quickly," and he was not able to recover. The airplane came to rest inverted in the grass alongside the runway. The fuselage, wings, firewall, and the empennage were substantially damaged.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Private pilot should have monitored airspeed more closely during takeoff.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 8 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents8

Related mishaps