NTSB ERA22LA437 — 2022-01-20 · Palmetto, Florida, United States

Current FAA registration · N5125X

Make / Model: WHITING CLEON GLASAIR SH-2
Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19860502
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A66BFA

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N5125X WHITING CLEON GLASAIR SH-2 None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s loss of directional control during takeoff roll.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the takeoff roll the airplane began to drift left of the runway centerline. He applied right rudder, but did not have enough rudder authority to correct the airplane’s direction. The airplane drifted off the left side of the runway and struck an embankment resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot also reported that, if he had let the tail lift off the ground more gradually, he likely would have had enough rudder authority to maintain centerline. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

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

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2022_ERA22LA437.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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