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CEN10CA342

2010-06-24 · Salida, Colorado, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport ANK

N29CA has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (BOEING A75N1(PT17), built 1941), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s incorrect elevator trim setting and his inexperience in the airplane make/model.

Factual narrative

As the Experimental, Light-Sport Airplane (LSA) accelerated down the runway for its first flight, the airplane’s nose suddenly pitched up approximately 60 degrees. The pilot attempted to lower the nose by applying forward control stick pressure, but to no avail. The airplane stalled, pitched nose down, and impacted the ground; which resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear and structural damage to the firewall. The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. The pilot later reported that he had incorrectly set the airplane’s elevator trim which resulted in the uncommanded pitch up as the airplane approached flying speed. In addition, the pilot reported that this was his first flight in the airplane make/model. As the experimental Light-Sport Airplane (LSA) accelerated down the runway for its first flight, the airplane’s nose suddenly pitched up approximately 60 degrees. The pilot attempted to lower the nose by applying forward control stick pressure, but to no avail. The airplane stalled, pitched nose down, and impacted the ground, resulting in the collapse of the nose landing gear and structural damage to the firewall. The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. The pilot later reported that he had incorrectly set the airplane’s elevator trim, which resulted in the uncommanded pitch up as the airplane approached flying speed. In addition, the pilot reported that this was his first flight in the airplane make/model. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Knowledge-Knowledge of equipment-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Flight control system-Elevator control system-Incorrect use/operation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2010_CEN10CA342.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (stall). All research papers