Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Glens Falls, New York 12801
Saturday, May 15, 2010 9:05 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane stated that the purpose of the flight was to conduct touch and go landings on a north-oriented grass runway. After the first landing, he "misjudged the remaining takeoff distance" and was "a bit slow while trying to get airborne." As the airplane lifted off, it encountered a "gust" of wind from the left, then drifted to the right, contacted the runway, and nosed over. The airplane came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing spar and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures. The automated weather report at the accident airport reported winds from 330 degrees at 9 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a takeoff attempt.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/15/2010
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 905
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Glens Falls
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 12801
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 432020N
Event Location Longitude 0763619W
Event Location Airport Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GFL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 328
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 853 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID GFL
Elevation of weather observation facility 328
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
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) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27354
NTSB Notification Source Eastern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 5 2010 8:33AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N720AC
NTSB Number ERA10CA269
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 AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT
Aircraft Model 7GCBC
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1270-99
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 522
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name ESMI FLIGHT SERVICES LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City FORT EDWARD
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 12828-1754
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name ESMI FLIGHT SERVICES LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City FORT EDWARD
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 12828-1754
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 GFL
Departure City Glen Falls
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 905
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code GFL
Destination City Glen Falls
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 5 2010 8:34AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 01
Runway Length 2200
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --