Ultra Flight CHALLENGER N805FA

Summary

On 21 January 2009 at about 16:45 local time, a Ultra Flight CHALLENGER registered N805FA was involved in an accident near Waldron, Missouri, 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

21 January 2009 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Waldron, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

Noah's Ark Airport (06MO)

Coordinates

39.2201, -94.7194

Aircraft

Ultra Flight CHALLENGER

Registration

N805FA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Waldron → Waldron

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09LA154

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model of airplane, the inoperative flight instruments and the pilot's failure to abort the flight due to the inoperative flight instruments.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the light sport airplane yawed after takeoff and that he was unable to correct for the yaw with rudder control. He further stated that the altimeter, airspeed indicator, and tachometer were not operating and that after reaching a safe altitude he initiated a right turn to return to the airport. He stated that he was then unable to raise the right wing using aileron and rudder inputs and that the passenger had his foot on the right rudder pedal during the flight. He had no further recollection of the accident. The passenger stated that the airplane used most of the runway before lifting off. He stated that once in the air, the pilot tapped his feet which he took as a signal to remove his feet from the rudder pedals. He said that he did not have his feet on the pedals and pulled them back to make it clear that he did not have his feet on the pedals. He stated that the airplane then began a right turn that he thought was rather steep. He stated that he believed the altitude was too low to execute a turn that steep and that the airplane stalled. The airplane impacted a field about 3 miles south of the airport. The airplane's right wing was crushed upward and the nose was crushed rearward indicating that the airplane impacted in a nose-low, right-wing-low attitude. No preimpact anomalies were found with respect to the airframe, engine, or control system. The digital flight instruments could not be evaluated due to impact damage. The pilot listed no flight experience other than the accident flight within the preceding 90 days. Regulations state that to carry passengers, a pilot must have made 3 takeoffs and landings in the same category, class, and type aircraft within the preceding 90 days.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.