The pilot was practicing a soft field takeoff at the airport in Paris, Idaho.
As the Van’s RV-12 accelerated, the nose lifted more than anticipated and at a lower airspeed. The plane drifted left off the runway. The pilot decreased power and attempted to correct the heading change with rudder, but the airspeed was too low for the rudder to be effective.
The plane hit a precision approach path indicator (PAPI) assembly, sustaining substantial damage to the right wing.
The pilot determined he had incorrectly set the flaps to the second notch (full down) instead of the first notch specified in the pilot’s operating handbook, which he said contributed to the conditions leading to the loss of control.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to properly configure the flaps, which resulted in a loss of directional control during takeoff.
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This September 2024 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
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