Fresno-Chandler Downtown Airpo Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fresno, California 93727
Thursday, September 26, 2002 18:34 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The experimental airplane collided with the runway during an attempted takeoff. During rotation, the airplane excessively pitched up and began a steep climb. After reaching about 25 to 50 feet above ground level, the airplane settled back to the runway, hitting the surface hard. After touchdown, the airplane accelerated and veered off to the left side of the runway. The student pilot did not have instruction or authorization to act as pilot-in-command of the airplane. The pilot stated that he was engaged in a process of self-instruction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the student pilot's excessive rotation and failure to obtain/maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff, resulting in a stall.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/26/2002
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1834
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Fresno
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93727
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 364356N
Event Location Longitude 1194911W
Event Location Airport Fresno-Chandler Downtown Airpo
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FCH
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 278
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1856 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 77
Weather Observation Facility ID KFAT
Elevation of weather observation facility 336
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 800
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.69
Density Altitude (feet) 2573
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 16356
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Sep 26 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2005
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 29 2004 1:02PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FRESNO, CA FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6124U
NTSB Number LAX02LA297
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Paige
Aircraft Model Kolb MK III
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number M3-304
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 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 --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Matthew Potter
Aircraft Owner Street Address On File
Aircraft Owner City Fresno
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93704
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code FCH
Departure City Fresno
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1833
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code FCH
Destination City Fresno
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 2 2004 4:00PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30R
Runway Length 3006
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --