Le Mars Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lemars, Iowa 51031
Saturday, September 24, 2011 19:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that as the airplane was climbing he started a turn and experienced slow aileron response. He stated that he encountered a gust of wind that lowered the left wing. The pilot reduced engine power and the ailerons were still not responsive. He then added engine power and attempted to level the airplane. The pilot was unable to recover the airplane from an unrecognized stall and flew the airplane into the ground where its fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the flight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/24/2011
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Lemars
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 51031
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 424640N
Event Location Longitude 0961137W
Event Location Airport Le Mars Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LRJ
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 1197
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1855 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID LRJ
Elevation of weather observation facility 1197
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.95
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KLRJ 242355Z AUTO 09004KT 10SM CLR 19/02 A29
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) 29027
NTSB Notification Source FAA-AGL-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 16 2011 9:22AM
User who most recently changed record andj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N29RT
NTSB Number CEN11CA667
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 TOMPKINS
Aircraft Model TANDEM ROCKET
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number TR001
Certified Max Gross Weight 900
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Aug 25 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 29.9
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TOMPKINS ROBERT EUGENE
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City LE MARS
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 51031-2853
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name TOMPKINS ROBERT EUGENE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City LE MARS
Operator State IA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 51031-2853
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 LRJ
Departure City Lemars
Departure State IA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1900
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code LRJ
Destination City Lemars
Destination State IA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 4 2011 4:27PM
User who most recently changed record male
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --