Bunch COZY-CANARDIII N718JT

Summary

On 11 July 2012 at about 19:40 local time, a Bunch COZY-CANARDIII registered N718JT, operated by Tischler Joseph F, was involved in an accident near Winslow, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, 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

11 July 2012 at 19:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Winslow, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Winslow-Lindbergh Rgnl (INW)

Coordinates

35.0322, -110.7300

Aircraft

Bunch COZY-CANARDIII

Registration

N718JT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Tischler Joseph F

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Winslow → Denver

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12LA302

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during climb in high-density altitude conditions and with the airplane’s weight in excess of its maximum allowable gross weight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during takeoff, the airplane became airborne with 3,000 ft of runway remaining. When the airplane was between about 25 and 40 ft above ground level (agl), its nose dropped, and the pilot then pulled back on the control stick. The pilot was able to level out the airplane and establish a 200-ft-per-minute climb rate. As the airplane approached 75 ft agl at an indicated airspeed of about 95 mph, the airplane's nose dropped to about a 30- to 45-degree nose-down attitude. The pilot again pulled back on the control stick, but he was unable to regain control of the airplane before it impacted the ground. The pilot reported that the engine was running roughly during an initial start-up, but he stated that it ran normally during a subsequent start-up and two engine run-ups before taking off on the accident flight. A postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane's calculated gross weight exceeded its allowable maximum gross weight, and high-density altitude conditions existed at the time of the accident. Although these conditions likely affected the airplane's performance, the pilot was able to establish a positive climb rate after takeoff; however, he did not maintain control of the airplane as the pitch changed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.