Private Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Caputa, South Dakota 57703
Friday, July 25, 2014 20:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The flight instructor reported that the student pilot pushed the throttle about 3/4 of the way in during the takeoff roll, and did not add full power until about 1/2 way down the 1,500 foot grass airstrip. The airplane had not attained flying airspeed by the time it reached the end of the runway. The airplane became airborne, but it settled and impacted the terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and right wingtip. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's improper takeoff procedure and the flight instructor's failure to take control of the airplane and abort the takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/25/2014
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2000
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Caputa
Event State SOUTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 57703
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 435838N
Event Location Longitude 1025854W
Event Location Airport Private Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID XXX
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 3200
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1352 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID RAP
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33077
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 Aug 28 2014 5:53PM
User who most recently changed record silj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5530K
NTSB Number CEN14CA392
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELLANCA
Aircraft Model 7GCBC
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1026-78
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2000
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name WRIGHT THOMAS R
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1329 MORRISEY RD
Aircraft Owner City NEWCASTLE
Aircraft Owner State WY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 827019401
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name WRIGHT THOMAS R
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1329 MORRISEY RD
Operator City NEWCASTLE
Operator State WY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 827019401
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Caputa
Departure State SD
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1350
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Caputa
Destination State SD
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 28 2014 5:53PM
User who most recently changed record silj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 1500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --