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CHI94DEP02

1994-03-05 · WATERTOWN, Wisconsin, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport RYV

N754RG has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (RONALD J GROSSO ZENITH 750 CRUZER, built 2023), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER USE OF THE ELEVATOR AND HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRCRAFT.

Factual narrative

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

March 5, 1994, about 1115 central standard time, a homebuilt Corby Starlet, N754RG, registered to and operated by Ronald J. Grosse of Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the terrain on takeoff from runway 23 at Watertown Municipal Airport, Watertown, Wisconsin. The solo pilot received no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The accident fight was the first flight for the amateur built airplane and was the first flight in this type of airplane for the pilot-in-command. The pilot stated, "I pulled back too far on the stick, apparently stalling the right wing at 20 feet."

PERSONAL INFORMATION

The pilot-in-command held a private pilot certificate with a single engine land rating. He had accumulated 225 hours total time and 0 (Zero) in this model airplane. He held a third class medical certificate with the date of the last examination of August 21, 1992.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The airplane a Corby Starlet, serial number 01, registration number N754RG, was amateur built, and was issued a special airworthiness certificate in the Experimental category on August 4, 1993.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

Ground impact scars indicate that initial impact was with the right wing tip and the airplane cartwheeled. The airplane ended up inverted. The wings broke off at the fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no operational problems with the airplane. The flight controls were intact and connected to the control system.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The owner of the airplane retained possession of the wreckage and removed it from the accident site. The accident investigation was concluded on March 15, 1994. THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING THE FIRST FLIGHT IN THIS HOME BUILT AIRPLANE. HE STATED THAT HE 'PULLED BACK TOO FAR ON THE STICK, APPARENTLY STALLING THE RIGHT WING...' ON THE INITIAL TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED THE GROUND WITH THE RIGHT WING FIRST THEN CARTWHEELED. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1994_CHI94DEP02.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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Related research

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