UNREGunknown Avid Flyer 2003-09-06 NTSB Accident Report

Substantial
Minor

unknown Avid Flyer S/N: Unknown

Summary

On September 06, 2003, a Unknown Avid Flyer (UNREG) was involved in an accident near Covington, NY. The accident resulted in 2 minor injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff.

On September 5, 2003, about 1830 eastern daylight time, an unregistered amateur built Avid Flyer, was substantially damaged during a collision with terrain, while departing a private airstrip near Covington, New York. The certificated private pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot stated that he departed on runway 25, an 800-foot-long, 60-foot-wide, turf runway. Prior to the takeoff roll, the airplane was not aligned with the runway centerline. The pilot further stated:

"...used some of the runway to get on centerline. On takeoff roll I used more runway than normal.

This accident is documented in NTSB report NYC03CA194. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft UNREG.

Accident Details

Date
Saturday, September 6, 2003
NTSB Number
NYC03CA194
Location
Covington, NY
Event ID
20031006X01662
Coordinates
42.853332, -78.010276
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
2
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
UNKNOWN
Serial Number
Unknown
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Model / ICAO
Avid Flyer SA02
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Analysis

On September 5, 2003, about 1830 eastern daylight time, an unregistered amateur built Avid Flyer, was substantially damaged during a collision with terrain, while departing a private airstrip near Covington, New York. The certificated private pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot stated that he departed on runway 25, an 800-foot-long, 60-foot-wide, turf runway. Prior to the takeoff roll, the airplane was not aligned with the runway centerline. The pilot further stated:

"...used some of the runway to get on centerline. On takeoff roll I used more runway than normal. Once we were airborne it was too late to abort the takeoff and we found the [altitude] was not enough to clear trees off the end of the runway."

The pilot increased the airplane's pitch angle and cleared the trees. However, the airplane subsequently experienced an inadvertent stall, and impacted a grass field beyond the trees.

The pilot did not report any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.

The wind was reported as calm, at 1754 and 1854, at an airport approximately 20 miles southeast of the accident site.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC03CA194