History of Flight
On 16 October 2011, at approximately 15:00 UTC, a Piper PA-18-95 Super Cub (registration OO-KKK) departed from the airfield of Verviers/Theux (EBTX) for a local flight. The pilot and a passenger, who also held a pilot license, intended to take photographs of a Jodel D9 aircraft in flight. The Jodel had already taken off, and the occupants of the Super Cub were reportedly hurried and excited to begin their flight. The take-off was performed from the middle of runway 06. Witnesses observed that the aircraft had a high angle of attack and the tail wheel remained on the ground during lift-off. After crossing a highway bordering the airfield, the airplane first turned left, then flipped to the right and descended into a field. Both occupants were killed upon impact.
Injuries to Persons
The accident resulted in fatal injuries to the pilot and passenger. No other persons were injured.
Damage to Aircraft
The aircraft was totally destroyed.
Personnel Information
The pilot, aged 66, held a Belgian Private Pilot License with a SEP(Land) rating and a valid Class 2 medical certificate. He had approximately 400 flight hours total, with 300 as pilot-in-command. His recent experience on the PA-18 type in the last 12 months totaled 28 hours and 25 minutes. The passenger, seated in the aft seat, was also a pilot.
Aircraft Information
The accident aircraft was a Piper PA-18-95 Super Cub (originally an L-18C), serial number unknown. The owner was Royal Verviers Aviation ASBL. The aircraft was equipped with a 95 hp engine and a fixed-pitch propeller. At the time of the accident, the fuel tanks were each approximately half full. The elevator trim was found set in the landing position (approximately neutral). The aircraft had been parked earlier that day with all switches off, mixture in idle cut-off, and fuel selector on the right tank.
Meteorological Conditions
The investigation did not specify weather details beyond that it was daylight at 15:00 UTC.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The crash site was located in a field approximately 455 meters from the end of runway 06, with the aircraft facing south. The wreckage was examined, and no pre-impact mechanical anomalies were identified.
Analysis
The investigation determined that the take-off was conducted with insufficient speed, a tail-down attitude, and the elevator trim still in the landing position. The take-off roll began from the middle of the runway, reducing the available distance. The aircraft failed to accelerate adequately and stalled at low altitude. The combination of high density altitude, aircraft weight, and center of gravity beyond the aft limit likely contributed to the stall. Additionally, the pilot's lack of recent experience on the type and pressure to complete the flight were considered relevant factors.
Conclusions and Causes
The accident was caused by an unintentional stall at very low altitude during initial climb. The stall resulted from a combination of insufficient take-off speed, an elevator trim set in the landing position, and the take-off being initiated from the middle of the runway. Contributing factors included high density altitude, high weight and center of gravity beyond the aft limit, the pilot's limited recent experience on the type, and pressure to perform the flight.