Takeoff & Initial Climb · NTSB CEN09LA262
CAPRA, SALVATORE O AVENTURA 2 — Des Allemands, LA
| Date | April 22, 2009 |
| Location | Des Allemands, LA |
| Aircraft | CAPRA, SALVATORE O AVENTURA 2 (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Initial climb Other weather encounter |
| Pilot age | 64 |
| Pilot total time | 946 hrs · Building experience |
| Time in type | 0 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to achieve adequate altitude and airspeed before beginning a downwind turn after takeoff.
NTSB findings
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-High wind-Response/compensation
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained - C
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
What happened
A witness observed the airplane flying in the area of the accident about one hour before landing on the water. The non-seaplane-rated pilot tried to taxi the airplane to a nearby pier, but was unable due to winds in the area. After about 15 minutes the witness observed the airplane take off and begin a left, downwind turn in 20- to 30-degree bank, and at an altitude of about 100 feet. Shortly after starting the turn the airplane began to descend, hitting trees and impacting the ground. The witness described the engine as running normally and the winds as 10 to 20 miles per hour and gusty.