Carlton, MN, USA
UNREG
Johnson Titan Tornado I
The homebuilt airplane impacted trees during its maiden takeoff from a private airstrip. The pilot reported that the airplane "did not lift-off as expected" and it "bounced into air" after a 600 foot long ground roll. The pilot stated that the airplane "climbed out slowly" and impacted the top of a 40 foot high tree with a wingtip. The pilot reported the airplane came to rest nose-down, hanging from the tree. The pilot believes he incorrectly set the pitch of the propeller during construction, which resulted in a reduced engine power output. The airplane had not been issued a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness or registration certificate. The pilot reported his last medical certificate was issued during 1964. The pilot stated his total flight experience was about 65 hours.
On September 25, 2004, at 1631 central daylight time, an unregistered Titan Tornado I, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees during takeoff from a private airstrip near Carlton, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight test was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, the accident flight was the maiden flight for the homebuilt airplane. The pilot reported that the airplane "did not lift-off as expected" and it "bounced into air" after a 600 foot long ground roll. The pilot stated that the airplane "climbed out slowly" and impacted the top of a 40 foot high tree with a wingtip. The pilot reported the airplane came to rest nose-down, hanging from the tree. The pilot believes he incorrectly set the pitch of the propeller during construction, which resulted in a reduced engine power output. The airplane had not been issued a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness or registration certificate. The pilot reported his last medical certificate was issued during 1964. The pilot stated his total flight experience was about 65 hours.
The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff. Factors to the accident included the diminished takeoff performance due to the incorrect propeller pitch setting and the tree that the airplane impacted.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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