SEA96LA110

Factual narrative

On June 1, 1996, at approximately 1330 Pacific daylight time, a Stelly Kolb Firestar II, N2213U, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control and subsequent collision with terrain on initial climbout from Independence State Airport, Independence, Oregon. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The experimental-category homebuilt aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR 91 with a destination of Lebanon, Oregon, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot stated: "Just after takeoff (at approximately 40'-50' [above ground level]) and 35 mph indicated, the nose and left wing pitched up and started to roll to the right. I counteracted the movement with forward left stick, to lower the nose and level the wings. The nose lowered but the aircraft continued to roll to the right. [The aircraft] contacted the ground between the runway and the east parallel taxiway on the grass." The passenger, who owned the aircraft, described the sequence of events as follows: "Lifted off runway, don't know how high, felt some bumps. Right wing slowly came down. Right wing came down[,] hit ground[,] then we hit." Aircraft data furnished with the pilot's accident report list the aircraft's gross weight as 725 pounds and its stall speed as 30 mph. A weight and balance computation furnished by the pilot with his accident report indicated that the aircraft's gross weight prior to takeoff was 727 pounds. The pilot listed his weight as 180 pounds for this computation; a copy of his FAA medical certificate, dated May 5, 1995, listed his weight as 192 pounds. The pilot indicated on his accident report that no mechanical malfunction or failure was involved in the accident. The pilot reported that just after takeoff, at an altitude of 40 to 50 feet above ground level, and at an indicated airspeed of 35 MPH, 'the nose and left wing pitched up and started to roll to the right.' The pilot attempted to counteract with 'forward left stick.' He stated that the nose then lowered, but the right roll continued. The aircraft impacted the ground right wing first. Information supplied with the pilot's accident report listed the airplane's maximum gross weight as 725 pounds and its stall speed as 30 MPH. The pilot supplied a gross weight computation with his accident report, indicating an actual aircraft gross weight of 727 pounds befpre takeoff. The pilot used a pilot weight for this computation which was 12 pounds lower than the weight given on his FAA medical certificate. The pilot indicated on his accident report that no mechanical malfunction or failure was involved. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12