Jantzen EVANS VP N331EJ

Summary

On 16 October 2011 at about 12:30 local time, a Jantzen EVANS VP registered N331EJ, operated by King Grady W, was involved in an accident near Terrell, Texas, 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

16 October 2011 at 12:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Terrell, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Rockwall (1F7)

Coordinates

32.8086, -96.3519

Aircraft

Jantzen EVANS VP

Registration

N331EJ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

King Grady W

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rockwall → Rockwall

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12CA026

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, in that he did not determine whether the airplane’s climb performance would be sufficient to clear obstacles before initiating take off.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, after a preflight inspection and normal run up, he taxied to the runway for takeoff. The airplane lifted off the runway about midfield but was not climbing as expected, although the engine was operating normally. As the airplane climbed through about 100 feet above ground level, the pilot thought that the airplane was losing lift or stalling, so he lowered the nose and simultaneously banked right to avoid the tops of a stand of trees near the departure end of the runway. During the turn, the airplane stalled and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported that the airplane was near its maximum gross takeoff weight at the time of the accident, which could have explained the less-than-expected climb performance. He also stated that if he had not had to maneuver away from trees just beyond the departure end of the runway, he may have effected a landing without incident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.