NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On August 21, 2005, about 1100 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Kircher RV-8 airplane, N505DF, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed on impact with terrain following a take off from the Menomonie Municipal Airport-Score Field (LUM), near Menomonie, Wisconsin. The personal flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and its destination is unknown.

According to police reports, the pilot flew the airplane to LUM to give rides in it. After receiving their rides, the passengers watched the airplane depart. The passengers at the airport witnessed the airplane climb out, enter a roll, and get half way through the roll before the airplane descended below the tops of a corn crop.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a single engine land rating. He held a Third Class Medical certificate that was issued on January 29, 1999. The pilot reported his total flight time was 250 hours on the application for that medical certificate and he reported that he had accumulated 40 hours of flight time in the six months prior to that application.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

N505DF was a single engine, experimental amateur-built Kircher RV-8, serial number 81439. The tandem two-seat, low-wing, monoplane had a maximum gross weight of 1,800 pounds. The airplane was powered by a 180-horsepower Lycoming O-360-A1A engine, serial number L-38687-36A. The airplane's logbooks showed the last condition inspection was dated July 23, 2005. The airplane had accumulated a total time of 528.6 hours at that inspection.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

At 1034, the recorded weather at LUM was: Wind 270 degrees at 8 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition broken 3,200 feet; temperature 18 degrees C; dew point 10 degrees C; altimeter 30.10 inches of mercury.

At 1054, the recorded weather at LUM was: Wind 280 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 15 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition broken 3,400 feet; temperature 18 degrees C; dew point 9 degrees C; altimeter 30.10 inches of mercury.

At 1114, the recorded weather at LUM was: Wind 300 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 15 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition scattered 3,400 feet; temperature 20 degrees C; dew point 10 degrees C; altimeter 30.09 inches of mercury.

AIRPORT INFORMATION

The East Central US Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD) indicated LUM's field elevation was 895 feet and that LUM was an uncontrolled airport with two runways, 9/27 and 18/36. The A/FD showed that runway 9/27 was asphalt-surfaced, 4,900 feet long, and 75 feet wide and that runway 18/36 was asphalt-surfaced, 3,470 feet long, and 75 feet wide. Road and trees are obstructions listed for runway 9/27. An irrigation system is listed as the controlling obstruction in the remarks for runway 27.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The aircraft came to rest inverted in a cornfield approximately 1,000 feet West of Stokke Parkway near the extended centerline of the departure runway. A ground scar about 75 feet long running in a southeast to northwest direction was observed. The aircraft's right wing was bent rearward along its fuselage.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors performed an on-scene inspection. Their inspection revealed no pre-impact anomalies.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

The Dunn County Coroner's Office arranged for the autopsy that was performed on the pilot.

The FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute prepared a Final Forensic Toxicology Accident Report. The report was negative for the tests performed.

ADDITIONAL DATA/INFORMATION

The FAA was a party to the investigation.

Federal Aviation Regulation Part 91.303, in part, stated:

Aerobatic flight.

No person may operate an aircraft in aerobatic flight-

...

(c) Within the lateral boundaries of the surface areas of Class B, Class C,

Class D, or Class E airspace designated for an airport;

(d) Within 4 nautical miles of the center line of any Federal airway;

(e) Below an altitude of 1,500 feet above the surface; or

...

For the purposes of this section, aerobatic flight means an intentional maneuver

involving an abrupt change in an aircraft's attitude, an abnormal attitude, or

abnormal acceleration, not necessary for normal flight.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's decision to perform an aerobatic roll during takeoff, the low altitude, and his failure to maintain clearance from the crops and terrain.