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ERA15CA188

2015-04-16 · Gulf Shores, Alabama, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport JKA

Current FAA registration · N415PM

Make / Model
P & M AVIATION LTD PULSR
Year of manufacture
2015 · 0 years old at event
Engine
ROTAX 912ULS SERIES (100 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20150415
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A4E804

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a collision with the ground.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he was conducting his first flight in the new light-sport weight-shift control aircraft, which he purchased about 1 month prior. During the takeoff roll, he inadvertently applied a right steering control input and then over-corrected to the left. The left wing contacted the ground, and the aircraft rolled over onto its left side, which resulted in substantial wing and fuselage damage. The pilot reported that he did not experience any preaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. He further reported about 1,200 hours of total fight experience, which included about 1,000 hours in similar weight-shift control aircraft. The pilot reported that he was conducting his first flight in the new light-sport weight-shift control aircraft, which he purchased about 1 month prior. During the takeoff roll, he inadvertently applied a right steering control input and then over-corrected to the left. The left wing contacted the ground, and the aircraft rolled over onto its left side, which resulted in substantial wing and fuselage damage. The pilot reported that he did not experience any preaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. He further reported about 1,200 hours of total fight experience, which included about 1,000 hours in similar weight-shift control aircraft. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2015_ERA15CA188.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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