NTSB Factual Report

On July 7, 2011, about 1800 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Burtner Derjager D IX, N7808M, sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees and terrain during a forced landing after an aborted landing from runway 7 at the Columbiana County Airport, East Liverpool, Ohio. The pilot received serious injuries. The airplane was registered to an individual and operated by a commercial pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight which was not operating on a flight plan. The local flight originated about 1730.

The pilot reported that he had purchased the airplane several months prior to the accident and had made modifications to the cockpit to provide more room. He stated that he had discussed the flight characteristics of the airplane with the previous owner on several occasions. On the day of the accident, the pilot performed high-speed taxi tests on runway 25. On the third high-speed taxi test, he pulled the airplane into the air. The pilot reported that the airplane had a positive rate of climb and that the controls were sensitive. He stated that he made several touch and goes during the flight. During the final touch and go, the airplane porpoised and the landing gear struck the runway hard. The pilot applied power and aborted the landing. When the airplane was about 100 feet above the ground, the propeller disintegrated and the engine began to vibrate violently. The pilot reported that he pulled the throttle control back and looked for a place to land. He stated that he had no further recollection of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a porpoised landing and propeller contact with the runway, which caused an in-flight disintegration of the propeller during the go-around, and subsequent collision with trees.