Lake Clinch Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Frostproof, Florida 33843
Friday, August 5, 2011 9:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of the experimental, amateur-built airplane was departing from a turf runway. He reported that as he passed his normal rotation point on the runway, he rotated the airplane without verifying his airspeed, which resulted in the airplane becoming airborne prematurely. The airplane rotated, rolled to the left, impacted a light pole, and came to rest inverted. Substantial damage was sustained to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's premature rotation during takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/5/2011
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Frostproof
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33843
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 274501N
Event Location Longitude 0813320W
Event Location Airport Lake Clinch Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 52FL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 125
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 915 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID BOW
Elevation of weather observation facility 125
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 11000
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) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
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
Density Altitude (feet) --
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) 28923
NTSB Notification Source Polk County Sheriff
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 9 2011 11:54AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N13LN
NTSB Number ERA11CA440
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 NELSEN LYNN H
Aircraft Model LIGHTNING
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 60
Certified Max Gross Weight 1320
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 28 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 311
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name NELSEN LYNN H
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City FROST PROOF
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33843
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name NELSEN LYNN H
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City FROST PROOF
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 33843
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 52FL
Departure City Frostproof
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 915
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 52FL
Destination City Frostproof
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 9 2011 11:54AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 2800
Runway Width 80
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --