NTSB Factual Report

On May 29, 2005, at approximately 1700 Pacific daylight time, a Fisher, Mini Max 1300 experimental homebuilt, N548AF, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees immediately after takeoff near Sandy, Oregon. The non-certificated pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, was not injured. The flight was being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot had not filed a flight plan.

The pilot said he had just purchased the zero-time aircraft. He said that a friend test flew it for approximately 40 minutes. The pilot said that he preflighted the airplane, but did not have a check list. He said that after he strapped himself into the single seat cockpit, he maneuvered the flight controls, but does not believe that he got the stick full forward.

The pilot said that while ground testing the aircraft, he could not get the tail wheel to rise. He increased the speed in an attempt to raise the tail wheel, and the aircraft became airborne. He said that when he got to approximately 50 feet, the aircraft stalled to the right into some trees and brush. Both wings broke in half and the bottom of the fuselage broke out from under the pilot.

The pilot had approximately 40 hours of flight training in 1989; he was not a certificated pilot. He did say that approximately 1 to 2 years ago, he had flown in a small airplane with a friend. The pilot said that because of his seat belt and shoulder harness, he could not get full forward deflection of the control stick.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight (his inability to get full elevator down deflection with the flight control stick with shoulder harness and seat belt on) and subsequent loss of aircraft control which resulted in a stall/spin into the trees. Contributing factors were the lack of familiarity with the aircraft and the lack of pilot certification.