Amateur-built LIONHEART accident near Batavia, New York, July 26, 2000
On July 26, 2000 at about 2:41 pm local time, a amateur-built LIONHEART, registered N985CC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Batavia, New York (Genesee County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed before liftoff, which resulted in a stall/mush. A factor was the pilot's lack of experience in the type of airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2000 · about 2:41 pm local time
- Place
- Batavia, New York · Genesee County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LIONHEART
- Registration
- N985CC · no longer on the register · serial 003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff roll, the airplane became airborne approximately 1,000 feet down the runway. It became 'unstable', the wings rocked from side to side, and the airplane did not appear to be accelerating. The airplane veered to the right, and its tailwheel struck the turf to the right of the pavement. The tailwheel dragged for about 75 feet, until the main landing gear contacted the ground. The right main landing gear separated from the wing, and the were propeller dug into the earth. The airplane continued up a rise, where the lower right wing struck the retaining structure of the tetrahedron delineating circle. The airplane then spun to the right about 180 degrees, and slid backwards about 75 feet. After the accident, an FAA inspector found that all of the airplane's controls were operative. The pilot told him that the engine had operated normally prior to the propeller contacting the ground. The pilot further stated that he thought he had attempted the takeoff at too low an airspeed, and that the airplane had stalled as the pilot attempted to gain altitude. He also noted that prior to taxiing to the runway, the windsock was limp, and there was no noticeable wind; however, after the accident, the windsock indicated 10-12 knots of tailwind. The pilot reported 7,200 hours of total flight time, with 5 hours in the accident airplane, half of which were on the day of the accident.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 7,200 hours in all; 5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 31 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R985 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GVQ at 2:41 pm
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,403 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from BUF, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.