Pilot Debrief

TAYLORCRAFT BF12 near Sawyer, MI — 2009-07-25

Final reportCEN09LA467
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Date
2009-07-25
Location
Sawyer, MI, USA
Airport
PVT
Aircraft
TAYLORCRAFT BF12
Registration
N36299
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while taking off from a short, grass runway.

NTSB narrative

The pilot attempted a takeoff on a 1,400-foot-long grass runway and during initial climb the airplane's climb "stagnated." The pilot lowered the nose to increase controllability and speed, but there was no apparent improvement. The airplane descended and impacted terrain, which collapsed the main landing gear and spun the airplane around. The airplane sustained damage to the wing spar and empennage. Postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The takeoff weight, which was near the maximum gross weight of the airplane, the lack of a headwind, and the grass runway surface would have negatively affected the airplane's takeoff performance.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff due to crosswind conditions.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents9

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