Ryan Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tucson, Arizona 85741
Thursday, February 10, 1994 11:13 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the takeoff seemed fine until the aircraft got out of ground effect. The aircraft began oscillating in roll and did not want to climb. The pilot noted that the engine was producing full power throughout the sequence. According to the pilot, the aircraft 'mushed back to the ground at 500 feet per minute' and impacted the ground in a slight nose- high attitude about 300 feet off the end of the runway. The pilot said he believes the roll oscillation was caused by an impending stall buffet and the lack of thrust was due to the propeller being of insufficient size.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to attain and maintain sufficient flying speed during the first flight test of his experimental homebuilt. A factor in the accident was the pilot's selection of a propeller inadequate for the airframe and engine combination.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/10/1994
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1113
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City TUCSON
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85741
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RYAN FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RYN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2415
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 3
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 658
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 10 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1250
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:40AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N187ES
NTSB Number LAX94LA118
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name GANSHEIMER
Aircraft Model EVANS VP2
Aircraft Series Identifier EVANS VP2
Aircraft Serial Number VP-2-187
Certified Max Gross Weight 1100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 27 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 10
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GANSHEIMER, EDGER L.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6740 N. STARSHINE
Aircraft Owner City TUCSON
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85741
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GANSHEIMER, EDGER L.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 6740 N. STARSHINE
Operator City TUCSON
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85741
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 6L
Runway Length 4900
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --