Accident Details
On June 13, 2019, about 1935 central daylight time, an amateur-built Just Aircraft Highlander, registration N324SB, was substantially damaged in an accident at Rockin M Airport (T14) in Quinlan, Texas. The pilot sustained minor injuries, and the passenger was uninjured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Accident Sequence
The pilot was practicing short-field takeoffs using soft-field takeoff procedures to clear a 50-ft obstacle. The airport owner had marked a starting position approximately 800 ft from the end of the 3,120-ft runway, with a line of trees located about 300 ft beyond the runway end. During three solo takeoffs from the marked position, the ground roll was about 200 ft each time.
After the solo practices, the pilot returned to the starting position with the passenger. During the subsequent takeoff, the ground roll was about 400 ft. The pilot stated that during the soft-field takeoff, he attempted to accelerate briefly in ground effect before climbing. He noted the airplane was performing poorly and the flight controls “felt sluggish.” Unable to clear the trees beyond the runway without potentially stalling, the pilot pitched the nose down and impacted shorter trees, damaging the right wing.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine test runs revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Performance Considerations
The pilot reported that the airplane’s weight was about 60 lbs less than the maximum gross weight. A light crosswind was present that may have shifted to a light quartering tailwind. Manufacturer specifications predicted a takeoff distance to clear a 50-ft obstacle of 800 ft. The pilot operating handbook recommended increasing takeoff distance by 10% for each 1,000 ft of field elevation above sea level, 10% for each 18°F above 60°F, and 20% for each 5 knots of tailwind. Based on the ambient conditions at the time, the predicted takeoff distance to clear a 50-ft obstacle was about 920 ft without any tailwind and about 1,100 ft with 5 knots of tailwind.
The Federal Aviation Administration Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-38) provides guidance for soft-field takeoffs, noting that after becoming airborne, the pilot should lower the nose gently to accelerate to Vy or Vx if obstacles must be cleared. The handbook warns against climbing prematurely or too steeply, as it may cause the airplane to settle back to the surface due to loss of ground effect. It emphasizes that the airplane should remain in ground effect until at least Vx is reached.