Polaris Motors 582 FIB N171MB

Summary

On 4 May 2009 at about 17:45 local time, a Polaris Motors 582 FIB registered N171MB, operated by David Elgin Rowe, was involved in an accident near Lexington, South Carolina, 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

4 May 2009 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Lexington, South Carolina, United States

Coordinates

33.7869, -81.0947

Aircraft

Polaris Motors 582 FIB

Registration

N171MB

Engines

1

Operator

David Elgin Rowe

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lexington → Lexington

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09LA281

2 people were seriously injured.

The non-certificated pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the non-certificated pilot’s lack of experience in the make and model airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the passenger, her father was the pilot. She stated that neither one of them had ever been in the experimental airplane before. She added that they "put their seatbelts on took off and came down." The passenger also reported that the engine ran continuously throughout the accident sequence. The pilot's son, who was watching the takeoff, stated that after rotation and during the climb, the airplane started a turn to the left toward rising terrain. The pilot attempted to climb over the rising terrain and trees. It appeared to the son that the airplane stalled and crashed into the trees. Examination of the airplane revealed no abnormalities that would have prevented normal operation of the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.