N818RJ

Substantial
Serious

Excalibur Aircraft ExcaliburS/N: 11199

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, January 30, 2011
NTSB Number
ERA11CA128
Location
Immokalee, FL
Event ID
20110130X34242
Coordinates
26.433610, -81.400558
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
1
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a high speed taxi test resulting in unintentional flight and ground collision.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N818RJ
Make
EXCALIBUR AIRCRAFT
Serial Number
11199
Engine Type
None
Model / ICAO
ExcaliburFK9
No. of Engines
0

Analysis

According to several pilots that were in the traffic pattern, the pilot announced over the common traffic advisory frequency that he was taking off from runway 36. In a statement to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot reported that he was completing high speed taxi tests when the airplane inadvertently became airborne. The airplane climbed to about 50 to 70 feet above ground level before the pilot pushed the controls forward to land. The airplane descended "fast" and the pilot pulled back in order to arrest the descent. Then, he applied right rudder, pushed forward on the controls again, and the airplane impacted the ground, and incurred substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Documentation provided by the manufacturer recommended against high speed taxi. Despite several requests, the pilot did not submit a Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, form 6120, to the National Transportation Safety Board.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA11CA128