Landing / Ground Loss of Control · NTSB WPR22FA311
Smyth Sidewinder TD — Wichita Falls, TX
| Date | August 20, 2022 |
| Location | Wichita Falls, TX |
| Aircraft | Smyth Sidewinder TD (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Takeoff Runway excursion |
| Pilot age | 87 |
| Pilot total time | 20,000 hrs · High time |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Total experience w/ equipment-Pilot
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-(general)-(general)-Not attained/maintained
What happened
The pilot purchased the experimental, amateur-built airplane on the morning of the accident. He was planning to fly the airplane to his home airport in a different state. That morning, the previous owner and the pilot reviewed the maintenance logbooks, airplane characteristics, checklists, and examined the airframe and engine. After a thorough review, they started the engine and completed a run-up. The previous owner offered to stay in the airplane so the pilot could practice taking off and landing. The pilot declined and the previous owner exited the airplane.
Witnesses observed the airplane align with the runway centerline and begin to accelerate. The pilot appeared to be making a 3-point takeoff with all the landing gear remaining on the runway surface. The airplane then became airborne at a slow speed and climbed to about 50-75 feet above ground level (agl). The airplane assumed a nose-high attitude and stalled as the left wing dropped down and collided with terrain adjacent to the runway; the airplane erupted into flames.
The 87-year-old pilot had over 20,000 hours of total flight experience but had never flown the accident airplane.