Murphy Aircraft Elite accident near Batavia, New York, July 16, 2011
On July 16, 2011, a Murphy Aircraft Elite, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N113SM, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Batavia, New York (Genesee County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2011
- Place
- Batavia, New York · Genesee County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Murphy Aircraft Elite, amateur-built
- Registration
- N113SM · no longer on the register · serial 624E
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was flying the airplane for its first flight after being "rebuilt." After a preflight inspection, which included engine run-ups and a high-speed taxi, the pilot commenced the takeoff. When the airplane was about 8 to 10 inches off the ground, the pilot felt the airplane being pulled up and to the left. He lost control of the airplane, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane nosed over and came to rest off the left side of the runway. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. Postaccident examination verified flight control continuity to the rudder and elevator. Further examination of the aileron revealed that the aileron control rod end fractured due to overstress during the impact sequence.
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
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,814 hours in all; 71 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,634 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 26, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 506 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 12, 2011; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GVQ Batavia NY
- Destination: GVQ Batavia NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
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.