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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

June 27, 1987 · Rollins Starlite · N172SL

Arlington, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 27, 1987
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Arlington, TX
Aircraft
Rollins Starlite
Tail Number
N172SL
Operator
Alton R Rollins
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW87DPA03

THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT FOR THE 156 HOUR PRIVATE PILOT IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE, HOWEVER, HE HAD PREVIOUSLY MADE SEVERAL HIGH SPEED TAXI RUNS IN IT. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE PILOT USED ONLY ABOUT HALF THROTTLE FOR THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF. THE AIRCRAFT REPORTEDLY SHOULD HAVE LIFTED OFF WITHIN 300 FEET, BUT INSTEAD, IT FAILED TO BREAK GROUND UNTIL IT WAS ABOUT 2,000 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY. IT CLIMBED TO ABOUT 50 FEET AGL AND THEN THE NOSE PITCHED UP TO ABOUT A 20 DEGREE ATTITUDE AND THE AIRSPEED DROPPED TO ABOUT 30 MPH OR LESS. IT THEN STALLED AND ROLLED SHARPLY LEFT AND WENT INVERTED. THE AIRCRAFT THEN ENTERED A NEAR VERTICAL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE WHICH WAS MAINTAINED UNTIL GROUND IMPACT OCCURRED. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF AIRCRAFT, ENGINE, OR SYSTEM FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. LIKEWISE, THE PATHOLOGICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE PILOT REVEALED NO SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS.

Full Narrative

THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT FOR THE 156 HOUR PRIVATE PILOT IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE, HOWEVER, HE HAD PREVIOUSLY MADE SEVERAL HIGH SPEED TAXI RUNS IN IT. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE PILOT USED ONLY ABOUT HALF THROTTLE FOR THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF. THE AIRCRAFT REPORTEDLY SHOULD HAVE LIFTED OFF WITHIN 300 FEET, BUT INSTEAD, IT FAILED TO BREAK GROUND UNTIL IT WAS ABOUT 2,000 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY. IT CLIMBED TO ABOUT 50 FEET AGL AND THEN THE NOSE PITCHED UP TO ABOUT A 20 DEGREE ATTITUDE AND THE AIRSPEED DROPPED TO ABOUT 30 MPH OR LESS. IT THEN STALLED AND ROLLED SHARPLY LEFT AND WENT INVERTED. THE AIRCRAFT THEN ENTERED A NEAR VERTICAL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE WHICH WAS MAINTAINED UNTIL GROUND IMPACT OCCURRED. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF AIRCRAFT, ENGINE, OR SYSTEM FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. LIKEWISE, THE PATHOLOGICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE PILOT REVEALED NO SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:05 CDT
Nearest AirportArlington (0nm N)
Runway34
Runway Length4000 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRollins Starlite
Tail NumberN172SL
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorAlton R Rollins
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 447 · Reciprocating · 40
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 33 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind50° @ 10 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 25000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point55
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time02:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data