Rose 75% Scale Fokker D8 accident near Derby, Kansas, May 25, 2002
On May 25, 2002 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Rose 75% Scale Fokker D8, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N2188X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Derby, Kansas (Hamilton Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Inadequate preflight planning and inadequate compensation for the wind conditions which resulted in a failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors associated with the accident were the crosswind and the trees which the airplane contacted during the takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 2002 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Derby, Kansas · Hamilton Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rose 75% Scale Fokker D8, amateur-built
- Registration
- N2188X · registry record · serial ERR1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane contacted trees following a loss of directional control during takeoff. The pilot reported he was short on runway when he initiated the takeoff so he had to "prematurely pull the aircraft off the ground... ." The pilot stated that once airborne the wind pushed the airplane toward a line of trees. He reported that he attempted to straighten the airplane heading, but instead the airplane hit the trees at an altitude of about 10 feet above the ground. The airplane contacted trees along the right side of the runway. The pilot reported the winds were out of the west at 15 knots. The pilot reported that the ailerons are ineffective until reaching 60 mph. He also reported that the rudder was so sensitive that at 50 mph, 1- inch of rudder pedal displacement would result in a 180 degree flat turn.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 636 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 542 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 23 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 20, 2002; 0 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1915CC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1K3 Derby KS at 6:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,500 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI02LA143.