Gustafson EASY EAGLE N707DG

Summary

On 6 August 2005 at about 18:10 local time, a Gustafson EASY EAGLE registered N707DG was involved in an accident near Milton, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 August 2005 at 18:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Milton, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Peter Prince Field Airport (2R4)

Coordinates

30.6375, -86.9936

Aircraft

Gustafson EASY EAGLE

Registration

N707DG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Milton → Milton

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA05LA146

1 person died.

A loss of engine power during initial climb after takeoff for an undetermined reason, which resulted in a forced landing and subsequent in-flight collision with tree-covered terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The solo commercial pilot was departing in a recently built experimental/homebuilt airplane on a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight. A witness, who was also a personal friend of the pilot, reported that the accident flight was the first flight since the accident pilot had built and certified the airplane. As he watched the airplane depart, it began a very shallow, gradual climb. He said that the airplane's takeoff run appeared to be longer than he would have anticipated, and noted that once the airplane became airborne, the airplane began a shallow flat left turn, with a nose high attitude. The witness said, in part: "It appeared the plane was not at full power." The witness reported that it appeared that the accident pilot was attempting to land at the airport, but as the airplane continued a left turn, it descended into the trees and disappeared from sight, followed by a large plume of black smoke. The steel tubing, wood, and fabric-covered airplane was destroyed by a combination of impact forces and a postimpact fire. An FAA airworthiness aviation safety inspector examined the aircraft wreckage at the accident site, and reported finding no preaccident mechanical anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.