Thompson Tommy W LOEHLE P5151 N212WE

Summary

On 4 December 2011 at about 16:50 local time, a Thompson Tommy W LOEHLE P5151 registered N212WE was involved in an accident near Courtland, Alabama, 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

4 December 2011 at 16:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Courtland, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Courtland (9A4)

Coordinates

34.6589, -87.3489

Aircraft

Thompson Tommy W LOEHLE P5151

Registration

N212WE

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Courtland → Courtland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA12CA096

1 person was seriously injured.

The airplane's inadvertent encounter with excessive windshear while on the downwind traffic pattern leg at low altitude, which resulted in the pilot's inability to arrest the airplane’s descent. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to fly the traffic pattern at a low altitude in gusty wind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to multiple statements, the seller of the single-seat, amateur-built airplane performed a preflight inspection with the buyer and an evaluation pilot, then he flew a demonstration flight around the traffic pattern at 300 to 400 feet above the ground and made a full-stop landing. The wind was straight down the runway at 10 knots and gusting. The evaluation pilot, who had not previously flown the airplane model, subsequently performed ground checks and taxi practice before taking off and climbing the airplane to about 400 feet. He then turned the airplane onto the crosswind leg and reduced power before turning it onto the downwind leg. After several seconds on the downwind leg, the airplane began to descend. The pilot added full power to arrest the descent; however, the airplane continued descending at full power, dropping almost vertically before impacting the ground in a level attitude, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Terrain elevation about 3 nautical miles upwind of the runway was about 150 feet higher. No preexisting mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane, and all of the statements indicated that the engine was producing full power during the airplane's descent. A witness reported that possible low-level windshear was forecast for the region. Windshear, which is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance, can result in a rapid loss of altitude, even with full engine power applied.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.