Maxair Drifter DRIFTER II N42548

Summary

On 1 September 2013 at about 21:30 local time, a Maxair Drifter DRIFTER II registered N42548, operated by David A. Gregory, was involved in an accident near Lafayette, Tennessee, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 September 2013 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Lafayette, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Lafayette Muni (3M7)

Coordinates

36.5200, -86.0581

Aircraft

Maxair Drifter DRIFTER II

Registration

N42548

Category

Airplane

Year built

2008

Engines

1

Operator

David A. Gregory

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lafayette → Celina

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA13CA400

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the initial climb after takeoff in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a hard off-airport landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the amateur-built, amphibious, light-sport airplane reported that the airplane accelerated and lifted off from the asphalt runway without incident; however, during the initial climb it encountered "severe turbulence." The pilot was not able to control the airplane and was attempting to return to the airport when it landed hard in a soy bean field, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation; nor did the pilot report any. The pilot reported that wind at the time of the accident was light and variable, with gusts up to 8 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.