Rgj Aviation Llc JOHNSON AIR CAM N81047 accident near Greenwood, Illinois

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to take off with insufficient runway available and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB analysis

After a fly-in event, the airline transport pilot was attempting a short-field takeoff from a 2,802-ft runway. The pilot added flaps to increase aircraft performance; he checked the flight controls and confirmed the flap setting before takeoff. He stated that he rarely used flaps, that the airplane does not require the use of flaps for a short takeoff roll, and that the airplane make and model had a takeoff roll of 300 ft. The pilot stated that he had about 1,400 ft of runway available and that he rotated the airplane at 50 knots. However, a witness stated the airplane back taxied only about 100 ft past the runway threshold and then turned around for what appeared to be getting ready for takeoff. A second witness stated he heard the pilot make a radio transmission that he was going to back taxi. The witness watched the airplane back taxi and very shortly after it crossed the numbers of the runway, it stopped and turned around. A few seconds later, the pilot applied full throttle, and the airplane began to roll forward. A third witness stated that the pilot attempted the takeoff with about 600 ft remaining to the end of the runway and that the airplane lifted off surprisingly quickly, perhaps 350 ft from the west edge of the runway, maybe further back. Shortly after takeoff, the right wing dropped, and the pilot experienced a loss of aileron control, which were consistent with the exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. The airplane impacted the ground to the right of the runway and cartwheeled before coming to a stop. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot took off with insufficient runway available and exceeded the airplane's critical angle of attack.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN18LA228 for the full record.