Milaca, Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Milaca, Minnesota 56353
Sunday, August 11, 1991 11:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED HE ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO LIFT OFF THE GRASS RUNWAY PREMATURELY, PLANNING TO HOLD IT IN GROUND EFFECT AND ACCELERATE. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE AS IT BOUNCED AND SWERVED BEFORE BECOMING AIRBORNE. THEY REPORTED THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 25 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND BANKED LEFT. THE LEFT WING TIP STRUCK THE GRASS AND THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE GRASS STRIP. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST IN SOME BUSHY TREES AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE PILOT HAD ABOUT 40 HOURS IN THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT. IT WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST OPERATION ON A SOD STRIP IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT STATED THE AIRSTRIP WAS BUMPY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF AND DEPARTURE WHICH RESULTED IN A DRAGGED WING AND GROUND IMPACT. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE ROUGH AIRSTRIP, THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPEREINCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION, AND THE PREMATURE LIFT-OFF.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/11/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City MILACA
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 56353
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MILACA, MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 18Y
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 1100
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1050 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 215
Weather Observation Facility ID STC
Elevation of weather observation facility 1100
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 6
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1999
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:38AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N327DM
NTSB Number CHI91DER14
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MILNER, DICK G
Aircraft Model GLASAIR II
Aircraft Series Identifier GLASAIR II
Aircraft Serial Number 327
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DICK GERBOTH MILNER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2355B JONQUIL LN
Aircraft Owner City PLYMOUTH
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55441
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DICK GERBOTH MILNER
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2355B JONQUIL LN
Operator City PLYMOUTH
Operator State MN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 55441
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 CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code D36
Destination City DULUTH
Destination State MN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 2900
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --