N114JB

On July 9, 2000, about 1133 eastern daylight time, a Browning Midget Mustang-I, N114JB, registered to and operated by a private owner as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight crashed during takeoff from Waycross-Ware County Airport, Waycross, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed, and the pilot, the sole occupant received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

A witness who is also a licensed aviation mechanic, stated that he observed the aircraft during the takeoff, and saw it rotate 250 to 300 feet after the ground roll. According to the witness, the aircraft then continued to climb to an altitude of about 300 to 350 feet above ground level, pitch nose up to about a 45-degree attitude, and entered an abrupt roll, followed by a 60- to 70-degree bank. The witness further stated that the aircraft had lost altitude and airspeed during the maneuver, and it impacted the ground, first with the left wing, then with the propeller. The aircraft then flipped over on its back, and slid 245 feet from the initial impact point, prior to coming to rest. The witness said that the airplane did not appear to malfunction, but it looked as if the pilot either pitched the nose up, stalling the airplane, or he attempted a snap roll maneuver at a low altitude, and did not recover prior to impacting the ground. The same witness later represented the FAA, and examined the airplane, and verified that there was continuity to all the aircraft's flight controls.

The pilot stated that after takeoff, and during the initial climb, he noted that his headset wire was under the shoulder harness and restricting his head movement, and while trying to pull the headset up to give himself more free wire, he accidentally knocked his spectacles off, and lost control of the aircraft while attempting to restore them.