GAA16LA046

Factual narrative

On November 8, 2015, about 0940 eastern standard time, an unregistered Aerolite 103 airplane impacted terrain during takeoff from the Warrenton-Fauquier Airport (KHWY) Warrenton, Virginia. The pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a visual flight rules personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that this was his first flight in the airplane. He reported that he applied full power for takeoff, the airplane pitched up at a steep angle and he immediately reduced the power. The airplane pitched down, and impacted the runway. A witness reported that the airplane lifted off of the runway, pitched up and climbed steeply until it aerodynamically stalled and pitched down "violently". The witness further reported that following the aerodynamic stall, the airplane descended steeply and impacted the runway in a nose down attitude, flipped over, and caught fire. The airplane was consumed by a postcrash fire. The Federal Aviation Administration Inspector assigned to investigate the accident, provided the official weight and balance for the airplane, which he obtained from the manufacturer. Using data provided by the FAA and the manufacturer, the calculated center of gravity exceeded the aft center of gravity limit. The accident airplane had a gross empty weight of 301 pounds, which exceeded the 254 pound gross weight limit for Code of Federal Regulations Part 103 aircraft. The private pilot reported that the accident flight was his first flight in the ultralight airplane. He reported that, after he applied full power for takeoff, the airplane pitched up at a steep angle and that he then immediately reduced the power. A witness reported that, after the airplane pitched up, it climbed steeply and then stalled. The airplane then pitched down, impacted the runway, and flipped over. The airplane was consumed by a postcrash fire. Calculations using the airplane's performance data showed that its center of gravity (CG) exceeded the aft CG limit, which reduced the stall speed and led to an aerodynamic stall and likely increased the pitch during takeoff. It would have been difficult for the pilot to recover from the stall at low altitude due to the aft CG. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Angle of attack-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Aircraft capability-CG/weight distribution-Capability exceeded - C
• — Personnel issues-Task performance-Planning/preparation-Weight/balance calculations-Pilot