Van's VANS RV 9 N235LS

Summary

On 15 January 2020 at about 17:18 local time, a Van's VANS RV 9 registered N235LS was involved in an accident near Coleman, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one 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

15 January 2020 at 17:18

Classification

Accident

Location

Coleman, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Freeflight Intl (2FA6)

Coordinates

28.8094, -82.0664

Aircraft

Van's VANS RV 9

Registration

N235LS

Category

Airplane

Year built

2007

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Coleman → Coleman

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA20CA075

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to properly configure the airplane for takeoff, which resulted in premature liftoff, loss of control, and collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had completed several takeoffs and full stop landings in the airport traffic pattern. During a subsequent touch and go landing the pilot did not retract the flaps fully after landing. The airplane then became airborne prematurely at too low an airspeed during the subsequent takeoff attempt. When the pilot attempted to lower the nose and gain airspeed the left wingtip contacted the ground and spun the airplane to the right. The propeller dug into the turf just off the runway and the airplane came to rest inverted in a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.