MILACA, MN, USA
N327DM
MILNER, DICK G GLASAIR II
THE PILOT STATED HE ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO LIFT OFF THE GRASS RUNWAY PREMATURELY, PLANNING TO HOLD IT IN GROUND EFFECT AND ACCELERATE. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE AS IT BOUNCED AND SWERVED BEFORE BECOMING AIRBORNE. THEY REPORTED THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 25 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND BANKED LEFT. THE LEFT WING TIP STRUCK THE GRASS AND THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE GRASS STRIP. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST IN SOME BUSHY TREES AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE PILOT HAD ABOUT 40 HOURS IN THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT. IT WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST OPERATION ON A SOD STRIP IN THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT STATED THE AIRSTRIP WAS BUMPY.
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF AND DEPARTURE WHICH RESULTED IN A DRAGGED WING AND GROUND IMPACT. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE ROUGH AIRSTRIP, THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPEREINCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION, AND THE PREMATURE LIFT-OFF.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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