August 4, 2017
This was the first flight of the airplane. According to the witness, the airplane accelerated well, and liftoff occurred about 300–400 feet down the runway. About 2 seconds after liftoff, the airplane pitched up to a “fairly nose-high attitude” of about 15°–20°. When the airplane was at an altitude of about 150 feet and less than halfway down the runway, it descended rapidly. The airplane landed hard and sustained substantial damage; the pilot was seriously injured.
The pilot reported that the engine performed normally and that he intentionally attempted a steep climb to ensure that he cleared trees at the end of the runway; however, due to the mid-wing configuration, he lost sight of the horizon in the initial climb and then had difficulty judging his pitch attitude due to the lack of an attitude indicating instrument. Ground personnel had radioed him about the excessive pitch attitude, and the pilot likely overcorrected.
airspeed, about the #1 instrument
Look at the wing tips for pitch attitude.
I’m with Bill … Airspeed indicator. They’re required for a reason; several in fact.
There is a bit of a delay with ASI. If you can’t see the horizon in a climb, the aircraft is a bad design.
Not a bad design. Mid-wings, though uncommon, are not really rare. The climb attitude would have to be FAR beyond a normal climb to put the horizon “behind” the wing.
Plus, as Dan mentions–a quick glance at a wingtip will give all the info you need. And–you can see “under” the wing through the fuselage side plexiglass.
The S-9 and S-10 are very well proven designs.
I suspect unfamiliarity with the plane and possibly lack of experience may be big factors in this accident.
Glad the pilot was not more seriously injured. The plane can be repaired—fairly easily…