N94454

Substantial
None

STETSON NORMAN B CHALLENGER IIS/N: CH2-0587-B-0256

Accident Details

Date
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
NTSB Number
ERA13CA354
Location
Orange, MA
Event ID
20130807X24106
Coordinates
42.568611, -72.286392
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of total flight experience in the accident airplane make and model.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N94454
Make
STETSON NORMAN B
Serial Number
CH2-0587-B-0256
Engine Type
None
Year Built
1988
Model / ICAO
CHALLENGER IIFK9
No. of Engines
0

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
DIAS ALESSANDRO W
Address
250 WHITNEY ST APT 602
Status
Deregistered
City
LEOMINSTER
State / Zip Code
MA 01453-3263
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot was departing for his first flight in the airplane. According to a statement provided by the pilot to the airport manager, the airplane was about 50 feet above ground level when the left wing dropped. The pilot reported that he attempted to correct the wing drop by manipulating the ailerons only; however, he was unsuccessful in leveling the airplane. He then applied left rudder while applying right aileron and the airplane began to spin to the left. The airplane impacted the ground in an approximate 10-degree nose down, left bank attitude, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. According to Federal Aviation Administration records and photographs of the Hobbs meter, the airplane had accumulated 8.9 hours in the 2 years since the pilot had purchased it. The pilot stated that these hours had been accumulated during taxi tests, and that the accident flight was his first attempt to fly the airplane. According to the pilot, there were no mechanical malfunctions or abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA13CA354