Siai-Marchetti SF260 N16FD

Summary

On 25 August 2016 at about 01:00 local time, a Siai-Marchetti SF260 registered N16FD, operated by Air Combat, USA, was involved in an accident near Fullerton, California, 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

25 August 2016 at 01:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Fullerton, California, United States

Nearest airport

Fullerton Muni (FUL)

Coordinates

33.8706, -117.9817

Aircraft

Siai-Marchetti SF260

Registration

N16FD

Category

Airplane

Year built

1977

Engines

1

Operator

Air Combat, USA

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fullerton → Fullerton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR16LA167

2 people had minor injuries.

The failure of the pilot to set the flaps to the proper takeoff setting before takeoff, resulting in an aerodynamic stall during takeoff and loss of control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

An aerobatic training flight was flown by an airline transport pilot. The preflight, taxi, and initial takeoff roll were uneventful until just after rotation, when the airplane began rolling left. The pilot attempted to correct for the roll to the left by adding full right aileron and rudder, but the airplane continued to roll to the left and impacted the ground off the left side of the runway. After the airplane impacted the ground, it continued to travel across a flight school ramp, striking four airplanes, and impacting a hangar, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. A small postaccident fire ensued. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A review of onboard video revealed that, as the airplane was taxiing to the runway hold line, the left flap was in the neutral (or retracted) position. Furthermore, the pilot and the passenger discussed the takeoff, but make no mention of the flap position before takeoff. The airplane operations manual and the Before Take-off checklist state that the takeoff flap setting was 20. However, video evidence shows that the pilot failed to set the flaps to the takeoff setting before takeoff which would have resulted in decreased lift, and an increased stall speed. The pilot was likely unaware of the flap setting as the airplane aerodynamic stalled and the pilot was not able to maintain airplane control. Airport surveillance video depict the airplane on the runway and accelerating. About 3 seconds later, the nose gear and left main gear were clear of the runway, and the airplane banked slightly to the right. About 2 seconds after that, the airplane was airborne and pitched up slightly and was rolling to the left; 1 second later, the left bank increased to about 15° consistent with the airplane at or near an aerodynamic stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.