Bowers Fly Baby 1-A N41017

Summary

On 4 March 2012 at about 16:52 local time, a Bowers Fly Baby 1-A registered N41017, operated by Stowe James L, was involved in an accident near Fallbrook, California, United States. One person was on board and one was 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 March 2012 at 16:52

Classification

Accident

Location

Fallbrook, California, United States

Nearest airport

Fallbrook Community Airpark (KL18)

Coordinates

33.3542, -117.2508

Aircraft

Bowers Fly Baby 1-A

Registration

N41017

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Stowe James L

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fallbrook → Fallbrook

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12LA122

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot did not maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane veered off the left side of the runway during takeoff and struck an elevated runway light located 600 feet from the end of the runway. The airplane traveled over a shallow grass slope, impacted the hangar door nose first, and embedded itself into the hangar. Both wings separated from the fuselage. The pilot, who was seriously injured, could not recall the events of the accident. A postaccident examination of the airframe revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.