Buffalo Airfield Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Buffalo, New York 14224
Monday, November 29, 2010 14:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that, when starting to takeoff in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he immediately applied full engine power and lost control of the airplane. The airplane departed the runway to the left and impacted a visual approach slope indicator control box, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane. He additionally stated that the accident may have been prevented if he had applied the throttle gradually.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff due to his abrupt advancing of the throttle.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/29/2010
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Buffalo
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14224
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 425143N
Event Location Longitude 0784259W
Event Location Airport Buffalo Airfield
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 9G0
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 670
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1354 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 172
Weather Observation Facility ID BUF
Elevation of weather observation facility 728
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 22000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
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) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.28
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) 28323
NTSB Notification Source Rochester, NY FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 29 2011 10:33AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N469SA
NTSB Number ERA11CA092
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 HAEUSSLER RAY
Aircraft Model SONEX
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 0206
Certified Max Gross Weight 1150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 1 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 191
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name LARSON JEFFREY L
Aircraft Owner Street Address 16610 VON SOSTEN RD
Aircraft Owner City TRACY
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95304-9721
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Kenyon Riches
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City East Amherst
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 14051
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 9G0
Departure City Buffalo
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 9G0
Destination City Buffalo
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 29 2011 10:33AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 24
Runway Length 2600
Runway Width 59
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --