Amateur-built TANDEM ROCKET accident near Lemars, Iowa, September 25, 2011
On September 25, 2011, a amateur-built TANDEM ROCKET, registered N29RT, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Lemars, Iowa (Le Mars Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 2011
- Place
- Lemars, Iowa · Le Mars Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TANDEM ROCKET
- Registration
- N29RT · registry record · serial TR001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that as the airplane was climbing he started a turn and experienced slow aileron response. He stated that he encountered a gust of wind that lowered the left wing. The pilot reduced engine power and the ailerons were still not responsive. He then added engine power and attempted to level the airplane. The pilot was unable to recover the airplane from an unrecognized stall and flew the airplane into the ground where its fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the flight.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 89 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 89 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 17, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 29.9 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 25, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hks UNKNOWN ENG (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LRJ Lemars IA
- Destination: LRJ Lemars IA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from LRJ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.