Pilot Debrief

Cessna 175 near Kilgore, TX — 2019-07-20

Final reportCEN19FA235
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Date
2019-07-20
Location
Kilgore, TX, USA
Airport
4TX6
Aircraft
Cessna 175
Registration
N7013M
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The noncertificated pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack when the airplane became airborne during a high-speed taxi test, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.

NTSB narrative

The noncertificated pilot was performing a high-speed taxi on a grass runway when the airplane became airborne, then impacted terrain in a nose-down attitude. The airplane’s left wing and forward fuselage sustained substantial damage. Examination of the airplane revealed no preaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The accident was consistent with the pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack when the airplane became airborne during a high-speed taxi test, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. Whether a medical factor contributed to the accident could not be determined from available evidence.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot should not have attempted to fly without a valid pilot certificate.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents3

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