Pilot Debrief

SLIP STREAM Genesis near Linesville, PA — 2017-07-02

Final reportERA17FA223
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Date
2017-07-02
Location
Linesville, PA, USA
Airport
PA01
Aircraft
SLIP STREAM Genesis
Registration
N3449
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a climbing turn after takeoff and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin at an altitude too low for recovery. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to operate the airplane with an inoperative airspeed indicator.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to operate the airplane with an inoperative airspeed indicator.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot departed on a local flight with a 5-kt tailwind in the experimental, light sport airplane. Witnesses described that, shortly after takeoff, about 500 ft above ground level, the airplane began a right turn before it stalled and entered a spin, descending to ground contact about 1,800 ft from the departure end of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation; however, the fuselage, cockpit, and instrumentation were consumed by postimpact fire. The pilot purchased the airplane about 2 1/2 years before the accident; however, his logbook indicated that he had flown the airplane only once, for 5 hours, since that time. A witness reported that the pilot had expressed that he "did not trust his aircraft." Just before the flight, the witness heard the pilot say that the airspeed indicator was inoperative, but the pilot had declined his offer to borrow one and proceeded to takeoff. Given the witness observations and the lack of mechanical anomalies, it is likely that the pilot allowed the airplane's airspeed to decay during the right turn after takeoff and exceeded the airplane's critical angle of attack, resulting in an aerodynamic stall/spin. Fire damage precluded functional testing of the airspeed indicator. However, the airplane's lack of a functional airspeed indicator, as reported by the witness, likely rendered the pilot with no, or possibly inaccurate, information regarding the airplane's airspeed.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have declined the flight due to discomfort and inoperative airspeed indicator.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents9

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