Pilot Debrief

Team Mini-Max Hi-Max near Monroe, GA — 2019-07-09

Final reportERA19LA221
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Date
2019-07-09
Location
Monroe, GA, USA
Airport
D73
Aircraft
Team Mini-Max Hi-Max
Registration
UNREG
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

A collision with terrain for undetermined reasons.

NTSB narrative

The owner of the unregistered accident airplane (who was not a certificate pilot) purchased it several months before the accident and arranged for the accident pilot to inspect and test fly it, which he did successfully for about 10 minutes. On the day before the accident, the accident noticed that the owner was having difficulty starting the airplane’s engine and offered to have his mechanic troubleshoot the issue. The pilot and mechanic subsequently worked on the airplane, after which the pilot departed in the airplane on the accident flight. Witnesses generally described that the airplane departed from the runway before making a left turn and impacting the ground near the airport perimeter fence. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Given this information, the reason that the airplane impacted the ground while maneuvering after takeoff could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot should not have conducted a test flight without airworthiness certification.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents7

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