Pilot Debrief

PONGRACZ JOHN M NIEUPORT 1 near Brasstown, NC — 2009-08-10

Final reportERA09LA454
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Date
2009-08-10
Location
Brasstown, NC, USA
Aircraft
PONGRACZ JOHN M NIEUPORT 1
Registration
N112PM
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during climb after takeoff, resulting in an inadvertent stall.

NTSB narrative

The accident flight was the initial flight of the experimental, amateur-built airplane. Witnesses observed the airplane departing south toward rising terrain. The normal departure procedure for that private grass strip was to depart toward the north, where the terrain descended. The airplane was observed in a normal takeoff roll before becoming airborne and, about 300 feet above the ground, pitching up before coming straight down. The airplane impacted the ground nose first, coming to rest on its back side in a pasture adjacent to the right side of the grass strip. A postcrash fire ensued. The airplane’s engine was heard at full power until impact. The responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector established flight control continuity to all the flight controls. The engine exam did not reveal any discrepancy that would have prevented the engine from producing power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have followed normal departure procedure to avoid terrain.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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