Amateur-built TRI-Q200 accident near Elyria, Ohio, July 25, 1995
On July 25, 1995 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built TRI-Q200, registered N888TQ, was destroyed in an accident near Elyria, Ohio (Lorain County Regional 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 decision to perform a staggered takeoff on the downwind side of the runway, which resulted in a wake turbulence encounter, loss of control in flight, and uncontrolled descent onto the runway. A factor was the pilot's lack of experience in performing staggered takeoffs.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 1995 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Elyria, Ohio · Lorain County Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TRI-Q200
- Registration
- N888TQ · no longer on the register · serial 2888
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE A STAGGERED TAKEOFF ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, WITH A LEFT CROSSWIND. HE STARTED HIS TAKEOFF WHEN THE PRECEDING AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE. ONCE AIRBORNE, AND AT AN ALTITUDE OF 20 TO 30 FEET, HE ENCOUNTERED WAKE TURBULENCE, AND THEN SANK UNCONTROLLABLY ONTO THE RUNWAY. THE FAA REPORTED THAT THE PILOT HAD MINIMAL EXPERIENCE IN PERFORMING STAGGERED TAKEOFFS.
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: 524 hours in all; 122 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 524 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 122 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 22G at 3:00 pm
- Destination: VPZ Valparaiso IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from CLE, 12 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.