Blue Swan Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sayre, Pennsylvania 18840
Tuesady, June 5, 2001 19:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the initial climbout after takeoff, the ultralight was observed rolling from side to side. It then rolled inverted and impacted the runway. The pilot reported that he "failed to maintain optimal climbing speed."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate climb airspeed.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/5/2001
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Sayre
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 18840
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 415910N
Event Location Longitude 0763354W
Event Location Airport Blue Swan
Event Location Nearest Airport ID N32
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 830
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1853 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 317
Weather Observation Facility ID ELM
Elevation of weather observation facility 955
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 12000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.04
Density Altitude (feet) 1400
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11107
NTSB Notification Source FAA FSDO-13
NTSB Notification Date Jun 7 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Nov 28 2001 7:25AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number NONE
NTSB Number NYC01LA138
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 103: Ultralight
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Interplane
Aircraft Model Sky Boy
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 8/2000
Certified Max Gross Weight 992
Aircraft Category Ultralight
Aircraft Registration Class Not Registered
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 52.8
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Walter Finch
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Rome
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 18810
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code N32
Departure City Sayre
Departure State PA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code N32
Destination City Sayre
Destination State PA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 1 2001 5:11PM
User who most recently changed record COXP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 2850
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --