Summary
On November 09, 2019, a New Glasair SPORTSMAN GS-2 (N24EP) was involved in an accident near Huntsville, AR. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury, with 1 person uninjured out of 2 aboard. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain proper pitch control during takeoff from a muddy, turf runway and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll from a wet turf runway, the airplane encountered mud, and veered left. He applied aft pressure to the stick and the airplane climbed into ground-effect. The pilot "pulled up" and attempted to climb out of ground effect, but the airplane descended and collided with trees.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
This accident is documented in NTSB report GAA20CA064. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N24EP.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain proper pitch control during takeoff from a muddy, turf runway and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Aircraft Information
Analysis
The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll from a wet turf runway, the airplane encountered mud, and veered left. He applied aft pressure to the stick and the airplane climbed into ground-effect. The pilot "pulled up" and attempted to climb out of ground effect, but the airplane descended and collided with trees.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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# GAA20CA064