Amateur-built SNS-7-Hiperbipe 3 accident near Lancaster, Texas, July 6, 2002
On July 6, 2002 at about 1:45 pm local time, a amateur-built SNS-7-Hiperbipe 3, registered N234JD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lancaster, Texas (Lancaster 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 adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 2002 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Lancaster, Texas · Lancaster Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SNS-7-Hiperbipe 3
- Registration
- N234JD · no longer on the register · serial 234
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On takeoff roll, the airplane swerved to the left. The pilot overcorrected by applying right brake or rudder. The airplane then swerved to the right across the runway and became airborne. Approximately 15 feet agl, due to lack of airspeed, the airplane stalled and impacted the ground with its left wing. Subsequently, the airplane's right wing hit the ground, separating it from the fuselage. The airplane came to rest upright approximately 100 yards to the right side and perpendicular to the runway.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 394 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 394 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 19, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 2002; 1 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-BEF (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNC Lancaster TX at 8:45 am
- Destination: LNC Lancaster TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from RBD, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.