Pilot Debrief

Brian P North RAF SE5A Replica near Watkins, CO — 2012-11-21

Final reportCEN13FA066
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Date
2012-11-21
Location
Watkins, CO, USA
Airport
KFTG
Aircraft
Brian P North RAF SE5A Replica
Registration
N17SE
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of airplane control and inadvertent stall while attempting to return for landing.

NTSB narrative

The pilot had requested to return to the airport for a full stop landing. According to a witness, the airplane appeared to be in a slow, labored climb in an abnormally high pitch attitude about 300 feet above the ground on the downwind leg in the traffic pattern. The airplane then entered a spiral descent while approaching the turn to base and impacted the ground about 0.7 miles north of the runway threshold; a postimpact fire ensued. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The slow flight and high pitch followed by a spiral descent are indicative of an aerodynamic stall.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the takeoff due to poor climb performance.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ATC audio
  • 6 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents6

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