Aerotrike DPS UNREG

Summary

On 5 July 2003 at about 15:30 local time, a Aerotrike DPS registered UNREG, operated by Gary P. Kehm, was involved in an accident near Brandon, Iowa, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 July 2003 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Brandon, Iowa, United States

Coordinates

42.3095, -91.9999

Aircraft

Aerotrike DPS

Registration

UNREG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Gary P. Kehm

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Brandon → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI03LA203

2 people were seriously injured.

The non-certificated pilot selected unsuitable terrain for takeoff when he departed from a bean field, and the airplane stalled as a result of low airspeed during takeoff climb. Factors to the accident included the pilot's total lack of experience, the pilot's poor judgement, the bean field, and the trees.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees and terrain during takeoff. The airplane was not registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The pilot held no pilot certificates and had no medical certificate. A witness reported the airplane departed from a highway to the west. The pilot was seen landing the airplane in a bean field adjacent to the highway where he picked up one passenger. Once the passenger was seated, the pilot started a takeoff roll from the field to the south. The witness reported that when the airplane neared the trees at the end of the field, it "went straight up and went to the left and nose down into the trees." At 0954, the recorded weather at Waterloo Municipal Airport, located approximately 26 miles of the accident site, indicated the wind was 300 degrees at 6 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.