Pilot Debrief

Earthstar Aircraft Gull 2000 near Curtiss, WI — 2021-06-30

Final reportCEN21FA297
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Date
2021-06-30
Location
Curtiss, WI, USA
Airport
PVT
Aircraft
Earthstar Aircraft Gull 2000
Registration
N1712L
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to depart into instrument meteorological conditions with dense fog and low clouds, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-imposed pressure to depart on the flight.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-imposed pressure to depart on the flight.

NTSB narrative

The pilot, who was not instrument rated, was departing on an early morning crosscountry flight. The airplane descended into trees and terrain near the departure airstrip. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the empennage, and the fuselage. Postaccident examination revealed no evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction or failure that would have prevented normal operation of the airplane. Based on witness accounts and reviewed weather data, instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) with dense fog and low clouds existed at the accident time. The airplane was not equipped for flight in IMC. The accident occurred about 8 minutes after civil twilight began and about 29 minutes before the official sunrise; it likely was still substantially dark as the flight departed toward the west and away from the rising sun. It is likely the pilot had self-imposed pressure to depart on the round-trip flight in the early morning hours so he could return for work. Additionally, he likely became spatially disorientated shortly after takeoff when the airplane entered IMC, which resulted in his loss of airplane control and the unintentional descent into trees and terrain. Toxicology testing detected low levels of ethanol in the pilot’s specimens; however, the identified ethanol was likely from a source other than ingestion and was not a factor in the accident.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
VFR into IMC
First missed decision gate
Pilot should have delayed takeoff due to dense fog and lack of instrument rating.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ADS-B / radar
  • 10 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents10

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