CubCrafters CC11-160 N4HW

Summary

On 29 September 2015 at about 22:00 local time, a CubCrafters CC11-160 registered N4HW, operated by N4HW, LLC, was involved in an accident near Lake City, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 September 2015 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Lake City, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Castle Lakes (CD32)

Coordinates

37.9083, -107.3517

Aircraft

CubCrafters CC11-160

Registration

N4HW

Category

Airplane

Year built

2015

Engines

1

Operator

N4HW, LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lake City → Telluride

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA15CA292

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure during takeoff to attain sufficient airspeed for conditions, and to maintain yaw control and a positive rate of climb, resulting in a loss of directional control, an uncontrolled descent, and collision with trees and terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was departing from a mountain airport situated in a valley. The pilot reported that during takeoff, he rotated about 52-54 miles per hour, and about 20 feet above the ground, a strong crosswind from the left pushed the airplane to right of the runway centerline. The pilot attempted to overcome the effect of the wind with control inputs, but the airplane collided with trees on the right side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. An FAA inspector who went to the accident site reported that the pilot rotated approximately 400 feet and impacted trees about 621 feet from where the takeoff roll was initiated. The FAA inspector estimated there was at least an additional 2,000 feet of useable runway remaining. The field elevation was 9,300 feet MSL and density altitude was calculated as 12,600 feet. The performance charts for this airplane stop at 8000 feet and required extrapolation for the airport elevation and weather conditions. Calculations by the FAA inspector estimated a minimum takeoff roll of 425 feet before rotation under ideal conditions for weather and mixture setting. A witness reported the pilot was "hot dogging" and was trying to show off when the pilot took off in a very short distance and climbed at a steep angle. The witness reported that the airplane aerodynamically stalled, collided with trees and came to rest in a ditch. The witness also reported that the wind was calm at the time of the takeoff and accident. The airplane came to rest on private property that abutted the airport, and the witness reported that the landowner dragged the airplane onto airport property with a tractor. The airplane wreckage was not photographed by the FAA inspector before it was moved. Eight other airplanes of similar make and model departed the field about the time of the accident without incident. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.