National Transportation Safety Board - Docket And Docket Items: http://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
National Transportation Safety Board - Aviation Accident Data Summary: http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
http://registry.faa.gov/N532FD
NTSB Identification: CEN12CA4
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, July 15, 2012 in Durango, CO
Probable Cause Approval Date: 11/07/2012
Aircraft: DOPPELT FREDRIC F F. 8L FALCO, registration: N532FD
Injuries: 2 Minor.
NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The airplane was being flown by a private pilot, who had not previously flown this make and model airplane, and a flight instructor, who was providing dual instruction. The pilot lost directional control of the airplane during the takeoff ground run, and the airplane subsequently became airborne at too slow of an airspeed. The pilot reduced the power to land the airplane back on the runway. The instructor stated that he told the pilot to lower the nose and to watch the airspeed then took control of the airplane. The instructor lowered the nose, and the pilot increased the power. The instructor stated that the left wing dropped as the airspeed increased, but he was able to level the wings. The right wing then dropped “very quickly,” and he was not able to recover. The airplane came to rest inverted in the grass alongside the runway. The fuselage, wings, firewall, and the empennage were substantially damaged.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane and the instructor's delayed remedial action.
The airplane was being flown by a private pilot who just purchased it, and a certified flight instructor who was providing dual instruction. The private pilot stated that he had flown the airplane with the previous owner and that the previous owner made the takeoff and landing. The private pilot and instructor spent about 1 hour briefing and preparing for the flight. The private pilot stated that during the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left of the centerline. He stopped the airplane from drifting, but failed to pay attention to the airspeed. He looked at the airspeed which was about 55 knots, and when he looked back up, they were airborne. He stated his initial reaction was to reduce the power and put the airplane back on the runway. He then heard the instructor state that they were too slow so he advanced the throttle. He stated the airplane then settled to the ground off the left side of the runway.
The instructor stated the airplane drifted to the left during the takeoff. He stated that when the airplane became airborne, the pitch attitude was too high and he instructed the private pilot to lower the nose of the airplane. He stated that the private pilot “froze at the controls.” He stated he again instructed the private pilot to lower the nose and to watch the airspeed. When the instructor took control of the stick and lowered the nose in an attempt to gain airspeed, the private pilot advanced the throttle. He stated that as the airspeed increased, the left wing dropped, and he leveled the wings. The right wing then dropped “very quickly” and the instructor was not able to recover.
The airplane came to rest inverted in the grass alongside the runway. The fuselage, wings, firewall, and the empennage were substantially damaged.
FAA IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 532FD Make/Model: EXP Description: FALCO F8L
Date: 07/15/2012 Time: 1510
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Serious Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Substantial
LOCATION
City: DURANGO State: CO Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT ON TAKEOFF CRASHED, DURANGO, CO
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 1 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 1 Fat: 0 Ser: 1 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Take-off Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: SALT LAKE CITY, UT (NM07) Entry date: 07/16/2012
A single engine experimental aircraft crashed at the Durango-La Plata County Airport on Sunday.
A fixed wing single-engine experimental aircraft crashed this morning at the Durango-La Plata County Airport.
Two
males on board the aircraft were transferred to Mercy Regional Medical
Center by ambulances from the Los Pinos Fire Protection District and
Durango Fire & Rescue Authority, said Don Brockus, a spokesman for
the Durango–La Plata County Airport.
Brockus said he could not confirm the severity of either victim’s injuries at this time.
The crash occurred around 9:10 a.m. and the runway is now back open, after being closed for about an hour and a half, he said.
The plane went down on the east side of the runway.
To Brockus’ knowledge, there were no direct witnesses when the plane went down, he said.
Brockus
said some debris from the crash will be left in place for the time
being to assist with an investigation, which will be conducted by
federal authorities.
According to the Federal Aviation
Administration registry, the plane is registered to Doppelt Ventures LLC
out of Missoula, Mont.
