Jim Garrison N11 N369JG

Summary

On 14 January 2007 at about 14:10 local time, a Jim Garrison N11 registered N369JG was involved in an accident near Titusville, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 January 2007 at 14:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Titusville, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Arthur Dunn Airpark (X21)

Coordinates

28.6167, -80.8319

Aircraft

Jim Garrison N11

Registration

N369JG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Titusville → Titusville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA07CA040

1 person was seriously injured.

The failure of the pilot to abort the takeoff after becoming airborne during taxi testing, and the failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed after becoming airborne resulting in an inadvertent stall, uncontrolled descent, and in-flight collision with a tree.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane stalled after takeoff and collided with a tree. The pilot stated that he previously ground looped the airplane in December 2006, which resulted in the necessity to replace the left wheel assembly. A borrowed left wheel assembly was installed with the brake drum facing outboard, rendering the left brake inoperative. The purpose of the accident flight was to perform taxi testing at increasing speeds in an effort to determine rudder effectiveness, and also for personal experience; no static engine run-up was performed before applying power to begin the taxi test. The airplane was taxied onto runway 15, and power was applied to begin the taxi test, but the airplane inadvertently became airborne. After realizing that the flight was airborne and there was insufficient runway remaining to land and stop the airplane, he applied full power and attempted to turn 45 degrees in order to land on a closed grass runway. The airplane climbed in ground effect, stalled, and collided with trees. He reported that the "...engine was 'overpropped' and thus not producing maximum horsepower." He also recommended more static testing of the engine/propeller combination.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.