Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clinton, South Carolina 29325
Saturday, March 19, 2011 12:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to a witness, as the amateur-built airplane began its takeoff climb, the left wing hit a small tree. The airplane then tilted to the left and collided with larger trees before impacting the ground. An examination of the accident site revealed that the takeoff area was adjacent to the pilot’s home. The takeoff area had 150 yards of cleared trees with 100-foot-tall trees on both ends of the clearing. The left wing impacted a tree approximately 20 above ground level, shearing off about half of the wing; the airplane then impacted larger trees before colliding with the ground. The non-certificated pilot likely did not have sufficient clearance from obstacles to perform a takeoff.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate performance planning, which resulted in a collision with a tree during takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/19/2011
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1255
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Clinton
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29325
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 343102N
Event Location Longitude 0815023W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1255 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID LUX
Elevation of weather observation facility 697
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 11000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.22
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29481
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 Dec 29 2011 1:30PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number None
NTSB Number ERA11LA208
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 Jennings John C
Aircraft Model Mini Max
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number Unknown
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
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 John Carrol Jennings
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Clinton
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29325
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name John Carrol Jennings
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Clinton
Operator State SC
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 29325
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 No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Clinton
Departure State SC
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1255
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Clinton
Destination State SC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 24 2012 10:45AM
User who most recently changed record broda
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --