| Crash location | 43.295000°N, 78.215000°W
Reported location is a long distance from the NTSB's reported nearest city. This often means that the location has a typo, or is incorrect. |
| Nearest city | Albion, NY
43.498126°N, 76.031032°W 110.5 miles away |
| Tail number | N888MG |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 23 Aug 2017 |
| Aircraft type | Hostein K/HOSTEIN S Pietenpol |
| Additional details: | None |
On August 23, 2017, at 1945 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Pietenpol, N888MG, collided with trees and terrain while attempting to depart from Gaines Valley Aviation Airport, (NY06) Albion, New York. The private pilot received minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual flight rules conditions prevailed near the accident site at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.
The private pilot, a friend of the owner of the airplane, had flown the airplane many times before the accident flight and was planning on a local sightseeing flight. The pilot reported that the preflight inspection, engine start, run-up, and taxi were normal. During the take-off roll, the tail lifted off normally, but immediately after, the airplane began a yaw to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with aileron and rudder control input with little effect. With full right aileron and full right rudder applied to the rudder bar, the airplane continued a turn to the left. The pilot reported the "speed was too great to land next to the runway" on the rough surface, so he elected to climbed over the hanger and trees.
Upon reaching the trees, about 250 feet south of runway 27, the left wing struck branches, descended into the trees, spun around, and struck the ground upright. The pilot stated the control anomaly did not present itself during normal ground operations, but only itself during flight.
Initial examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed that 4 feet of the left outboard wing spar was fractured. The landing gear collapsed damaging the airframe, and the firewall was damaged. One blade of the propeller was broken. The fuel tank was intact and contained approximately 10 gallons of 100 low lead fuel and the engine contained 4 quarts of oil.
The airplane was recovered from the accident site and retained for further examination.