McFarland Wm H RANS S6S N434WM

Summary

On 30 July 2011 at about 20:00 local time, a McFarland Wm H RANS S6S registered N434WM, operated by Paul E. Adams, was involved in an accident near Huntington, West Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 July 2011 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Huntington, West Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Robert Newlon Field Airport (I41)

Coordinates

38.4558, -82.3072

Aircraft

McFarland Wm H RANS S6S

Registration

N434WM

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Paul E. Adams

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Huntington → Huntington

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA11CA432

1 person was seriously injured.

The failure of both pilots to maintain proper pitch control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was both pilots' inexperience in the airplane make/model.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the initial portion of a training flight in the tailwheel-equipped amateur-built airplane, the flight instructor demonstrated two takeoffs and landings to the pilot. The pilot then assumed the controls and began the takeoff roll. The flight instructor directed the pilot to rotate the tail of the airplane into the air by increasing nose down pitch. According to the flight instructor, the pilot did not add enough forward pressure and the airplane seemed like it was still in a nose high attitude. The flight instructor then assisted the pilot by pushing forward on the control stick to what looked like a level attitude. The propeller struck the ground and the airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the tail and right wing. Both pilots noted no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Neither pilot had any previous experience performing takeoffs or landings in the accident airplane make and model.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.