Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Douglas, Wyoming 82631
Saturday, May 29, 1999 9:15 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During initial climb following takeoff from a private grass strip, the aircraft's left wing dropped to a bank angle of 10 to 15 degrees. The pilot added full right rudder, but was unable to level the wings. The aircraft continued in a climbing left turn for approximately 30 feet, then began to descend. The airplane struck the ground left wing tip first, followed by the nose and tail wheel. The aircraft continued rotating 270 degrees to the left, and came to rest on a heading of 050 in an open, grassy field. In a telephone interview with the pilot, he stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane, and that he did not sufficiently correct for the torque created during the takeoff at slow airspeed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft by not adequately correcting for torque/p-factor during initial climb following takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/29/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City DOUGLAS
Event State WYOMING
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 82631
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 123
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 30 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 334
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N22FE
NTSB Number DEN99LA089
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 Dehaan
Aircraft Model CHALLENGER II
Aircraft Series Identifier CHALLENGER
Aircraft Serial Number 1163
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Ultralight
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 3 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 200
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FRANK G. EATHORNE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2661 STATE HIGHWAY 59
Aircraft Owner City DOUGLAS
Aircraft Owner State WY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 82633
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 No
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City DOUGLAS
Departure State WY
Departure Country
Departure Time 910
Departure Time Zone MDT
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 8
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --