Elemdorf 1002 C-FOWD

Summary

On 29 April 2014 at about 18:00 local time, a Elemdorf 1002 registered C-FOWD, operated by Don Thompson, was involved in an accident near Rexburg, Idaho, 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

29 April 2014 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Rexburg, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Rexburg-Madison (KRXE)

Coordinates

43.8339, -111.8050

Aircraft

Elemdorf 1002

Registration

C-FOWD

Category

Airplane

Year built

2002

Engines

1

Operator

Don Thompson

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rexburg → Cooking Lake

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR14CA178

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's loss of directional control and early rotation during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the pilots to exercise adequate communication techniques.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he was in the left seat and a pilot rated passenger, who was a certified flight instructor (CFI), was in the right seat. The flight instructor stated that his seat was positioned aft such that he could not reach the rudder pedals. The pilot positioned the airplane on runway 35 for takeoff and said that he rotated a little bit early (70 knots) during the takeoff roll but it was manageable. The flight instructor stated that the airplane swerved left and right before the pilot rotated. The flight instructor called out to bring the throttle back, and described the remaining portion of the flight as porpoising. Both pilots reported that there was confusion in the cockpit. A witness said that he observed the airplane rotate early, enter a steep nose high attitude, and then begin to settle while the elevator was moving up and down erratically. After skidding for 497 feet the airplane went off the end of the runway and into brush causing substantial damage to some fuselage bulkheads and the right wing spar. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.