Briar Patch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clyo, Georgia 31303
Saturday, September 18, 2010 12:57 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were departing in a tailwheel-equipped airplane from the grass runway. The pilot reported that the engine lost power after the airplane broke ground with the runway. He pulled back on the control yoke to avoid striking departure end trees head-on; however, the airplane collided with the trees past the departure end of the runway. The passenger reported a lack of acceleration during the initial climb, that the engine rpm was about 2,650 to 2,700, and engine sounds were normal. A video taken of the takeoff roll indicated that the pilot allowed the tailwheel to drop back down and contact the grass for about three seconds before the video ended. The engine sound on the video was consistent with normal engine operation. A postaccident examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal any evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper aircraft pitch attitude during the takeoff roll, which allowed the tailwheel to contact the grass runway and increase drag on the airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/18/2010
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1257
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Clyo
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 31303
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 322656N
Event Location Longitude 0812013W
Event Location Airport Briar Patch Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 9GA1
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 100
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID SAV
Elevation of weather observation facility 50
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 18000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3600
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28384
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 9 2011 8:28AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3348K
NTSB Number ERA10LA483
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 GLOBE
Aircraft Model GC-1B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1341
Certified Max Gross Weight 1710
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 8 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 49
Airframe Hours 4647
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name BERG STEVEN D
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City MIDWAY
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 31320-4461
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name BERG STEVEN D
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City MIDWAY
Operator State GA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 31320-4461
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 9GA1
Departure City Clyo
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1257
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 9GA2
Destination City Midway
Destination State GA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 9 2011 8:29AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 2600
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --