Incident Overview
A pilot reported that during takeoff with a tailwind, the airplane experienced an aerodynamic stall at an altitude of approximately 20-30 feet above the ground, followed by impact with the ground. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the left wing of the airplane.
Pilot Report
According to the pilot, there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Relevant Guidance
The Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3A, 2004) discusses stalls. It emphasizes that stall awareness depends on the pilot's ability to visualize the wing's angle of attack and estimate the margin of safety above stall. This skill must be acquired early in flight training and maintained throughout a pilot's career. The handbook notes that pilots must understand factors such as airspeed, pitch attitude, load factor, relative wind, power setting, and aircraft configuration to develop an accurate mental picture of the angle of attack. It further states that stall accidents often result from inadvertent stalls at low altitude where recovery is not accomplished before ground contact.