582 FIB N171MB accident near Lexington, South Carolina

Probable cause

The non-certificated pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the non-certificated pilot’s lack of experience in the make and model airplane.

NTSB analysis

According to the passenger, her father was the pilot. She stated that neither one of them had ever been in the experimental airplane before. She added that they "put their seatbelts on took off and came down." The passenger also reported that the engine ran continuously throughout the accident sequence. The pilot's son, who was watching the takeoff, stated that after rotation and during the climb, the airplane started a turn to the left toward rising terrain. The pilot attempted to climb over the rising terrain and trees. It appeared to the son that the airplane stalled and crashed into the trees. Examination of the airplane revealed no abnormalities that would have prevented normal operation of the airplane.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA09LA281 for the full record.