Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Tampa, Florida
http://registry.faa.gov/N9288
NTSB Identification: ERA15LA306
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, August 10, 2015 in Brooksville, FL
Probable Cause Approval Date: 05/01/2017
Aircraft: WRIGHT DANIEL J Volksplane VP-1, registration: N9288
Injuries: 1 Serious.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The sport pilot, who was also the builder of the single-seat, experimental, amateur-built airplane, stated that he had "some issues" during assembly of the experimental engine kit, but was finally able to achieve the desired engine rpm during static tests. Subsequently, during the airplane's takeoff roll on its first flight with the new engine, the pilot noted that the airplane was able to gain airspeed, but struggled to become airborne. The pilot stated that he should have aborted the takeoff at that point. The airplane reached a maximum altitude about 100 ft, the engine lost power, and the airplane descended into trees and was destroyed by a postimpact fire. The extent of the fire precluded detailed documentation of the engine and its associated systems; therefore, the reason for the loss of power could not be determined.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff after determining that the engine was not producing adequate power. Contributing to the accident was the engine's inability to produce adequate power for reasons that could not be determined due to extensive postimpact fire damage.
On August 10, 2015, at 1033 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Volksplane VP-1, N9288, was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain during the initial climb after takeoff from Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport (BKV), Brooksville, Florida. The sport pilot, who was also the builder of the airplane, was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local test flight which was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to information obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the airplane departed from runway 9 and appeared to climb no higher than 100 feet. It made a left turn beyond the departure end of the runway and eventually descended into a wooded area about 1/2 mile north of the approach end of runway 27.
According to the pilot, he purchased the preowned fuselage and wings in late 2012, and after assembling those, purchased landing gear, some instrumentation and a Sonex Aerovee 2180 engine kit. He also noted that he had "no experience building an aircraft engine or any engine for that matter." The pilot further stated that there were initially "some issues" with the engine's performance, but that it finally achieved [desired] static rpm on the ground.
The accident flight was the pilot's first in the single-seat airplane. During the takeoff roll, the airplane "gained speed but struggled to get off the ground at which time I should have aborted the takeoff. Trying to overcome the first flight anxiety and not knowing how this aircraft should behave," the pilot continued the takeoff. After being cleared for a left turn, the pilot continued the climb, but realized that the engine, "did not develop enough power to climb sufficiently." As the airplane began to turn downwind, the engine lost more power, and the airplane descended into trees. Hitting the trees, the airplane burst into flames, and the pilot passed out. When he awoke, the pilot was in the fuselage and his legs were on fire. After unbuckling the four-point safety harness, he climbed out of the fuselage and crawled away from the fire.
Photographs of the scene showed the airplane in multiple parts and mostly consumed by the fire. The responding FAA inspector noted that the extent of the fire precluded detailed examination of the engine and systems.
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, August 10, 2015 in Brooksville, FL
Aircraft: WRIGHT DANIEL J VP-1, registration: N9288
Injuries: 1 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On August 10, 2015, at 1033 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Wright Volksplane VP-1, N9288, was destroyed in a postcrash fire following a descent into trees and terrain shortly after taking off from Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport (BKV), Brooksville, Florida. The sport pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local post-maintenance test flight which was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to preliminary Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) information, the airplane was on its first flight following the installation of a new engine. The airplane departed runway 9 and appeared to climb no higher than 100 feet. It made a left turn beyond the departure end of the runway and eventually descended into a wooded area about 1/2 mile north of the approach end of runway 27.
BROOKSVILLE, FL (WFLA) – A Hernando County man is in serious condition after he was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital Monday morning after a plane he was flying crashed. Hernando County First Assistant Chief Kevin Carroll tells News Channel 8 the call came in after 10:30 Monday. Pictures show the single engine plane on pieces and flames.
“Part of the wing the part of an engine for which thank goodness …all the rain we’ve received this year did not spread any further to the woods,” said Chief Carroll.
Hernando officials said, 68-year-old pilot was found standing next to the wreckage. He was airlifted to TGH and said to be in serious condition.
“Definitely had some serious injuries, I can’t get specific to what actually was wrong with him but the patient definitely needed care at a trauma facility locally which we did in turn send by helicopter to Tampa General. As you can imagine probably falling somewhere between 100-150 feet from the air down into the woods you can imagine someone would probably be stunned or shocked at that point,” Chief Carroll said about the pilot’s condition.
Witnesses who rushed to the scene after the crash said, they could see smoke coming from the wooded area where the plane hit the ground at the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport. Those witnesses tell News Channel 8 that the pilot was covered in burns. Fire crews were concerned about internal injuries.
Hernando County Fire Rescue tells us that the pilot was flying and experimental aircraft. Those who know the pilot tell us the single engine plane was from a kit and was homebuilt. The wings were solid but the cabin was open according to HCFR.
Witnesses tell News Channel 8 that the plane crashed right as it was taking off. We are told it barely made it above the tree line before turning towards the ground.
Source: http://wfla.com
BROOKSVILLE -- A pilot was seriously injured in an experimental plane crash at Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport Monday morning.
Falk Nicolaus, 63, was injured when the plane crashed at 10:37 a.m. in a wooded area near the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport.
Officials said that when Hernando County Fire Rescue responded to the scene, they found Nicolaus standing near the burning wreckage. He was taken by air to Tampa General Hospital with serious injuries.
Crews quickly extinguished the plane and wooded area without further incident.
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