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September 3, 2001 · Gelasi Aircamper · N7172B

Bloomfield, WI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 3, 2001
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Location
Bloomfield, WI
Aircraft
Gelasi Aircamper
Tail Number
N7172B
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI01LA313

During the initial climb after takeoff the airplane began to sink rapidly and the pilot lowered the nose of the airplane in order gain some additional airspeed. The pilot reported that he cleared two groupings of trees and, "...knew enough to keep the plane from banking or yawing to eliminate the chance of a stall, however at this point I think my passenger in the front seat decided to turn around & see what I was doing. I think his [right] leg pushed the stick over & the plane went into a left bank. All my efforts to right the stick would not do it [and] being too close to the ground I could not recover control before we struck the ground... ." The pilot stated that witnesses to the accident saw the airplane clear the second row of trees, yaw to the left, and then bank to the left. The pilot reported that when the airplane banked to the left, "... caused us to lose what lift we had." A written request for a passenger statement was made, and as of the date of this report no response was received.

NTSB Probable Cause

Aircraft control not possible due to the inadvertent control interference by the front seat passenger. Factors to the accident were the restricted control stick movement and the encountered stall.

Full Narrative

On September 3, 2001, at 1448 central daylight time, a Gelasi Aircamper, N7172B, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with terrain following a loss of control during initial climb after takeoff. The aircraft had departed runway 27 (1,775 feet by 130 feet, dry/turf) at the Vincent Airport, near the town of Bloomfield, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot and his single passenger sustained serious injuries. The flight was departing at the time of the accident and had the intended destination of Palmyra, Wisconsin. According to the pilot's written statement, during the initial climb after takeoff the airplane began to sink rapidly and the pilot lowered the nose of the airplane in order gain some additional airspeed. The pilot reported that he cleared a fence and a line of trees that border the airport area. The pilot stated that there was a second line of trees and he started a shallow climb to clear the trees. The pilot reported, "I just barely cleared these and knew enough to keep the plane from banking or yawing to eliminate the chance of a stall, however at this point I think my passenger in the front seat decided to turn around & see what I was doing. I think his [right] leg pushed the stick over & the plane went into a left bank. All my effort to right the stick would not do it & being too close to the ground I could not recover control before we struck the ground... ." The pilot stated that witnesses to the accident saw the airplane clear the second row of trees, yaw to the left, and then bank to the left. The pilot reported the left bank, "... caused us to loose what lift we had." A written request for a passenger statement was made, and as of the date of this report no response was received. Delivery confirmation of the request is attached to this report.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:48 CDT
Nearest AirportVincent Airport (0nm NW)
Runway27
Runway Length1775 ft
Runway Width130 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGelasi Aircamper
Tail NumberN7172B
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · A-75-8 · Reciprocating · 75
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 75 · Third Class · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind250° @ 12 kt, gusting 16 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter29.80 inHg
Observation Time19:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data