N3846T

Substantial
Minor

LAZEAR JOHN T ZENAIR STOL CH 701S/N: 73696

Accident Details

Date
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
NTSB Number
ERA17CA152
Location
Windsor Twp, PA
Event ID
20170411X34631
Coordinates
39.943054, -76.592781
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's improper pretakeoff planning, his failure to maintain adequate airspeed, and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during a short-field takeoff with a tailwind, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N3846T
Make
LAZEAR JOHN T
Serial Number
73696
Year Built
2000
Model / ICAO
ZENAIR STOL CH 701

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
STONE JOHN P DBA
Address
245 WHITE OAK RD
Status
Deregistered
City
RED LION
State / Zip Code
PA 17356-8255
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane reported that he attempted to takeoff on a grass portion of his property, that extended about 1,000 ft prior to reaching powerlines. During takeoff on an approximate 130° heading, he noticed the airplane was not climbing fast enough to clear the powerlines. He pulled up "hard" to clear the powerlines but stalled the airplane. The left wing dipped down and the airplane impacted the ground. The right wing separated from the fuselage and the empennage was crushed behind the wings. Both main landing gear separated from the fuselage, and the nose gear folded back under the engine compartment. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. He added that he thought the wind was swirling and may have encountered some windshear. The recorded wind at an airport located about 13 miles west of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 320° at 4 knots.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA17CA152