Amateur-built MERLIN GT accident near Kensington, New Hampshire, July 23, 1997
On July 23, 1997 at about 12:39 pm local time, a amateur-built MERLIN GT, registered N912AK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kensington, New Hampshire (Cole Airstrip 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 inability to obtain and/or maintain control of the airplane after takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1997 · about 12:39 pm local time
- Place
- Kensington, New Hampshire · Cole Airstrip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MERLIN GT
- Registration
- N912AK · registry record · serial 96060
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/builder of the airplane departed from a grass strip on the airplane's inaugural flight. After takeoff the airplane began to oscillate in the roll axis with increasing intensity. According to the pilot: 'Shortly after takeoff, at approximately fifty feet the plane started to dutch roll first left then right. I pulled back power and the third oscillation was toward a large pine tree. At this point the aircraft was approximately at a thirty degree bank. As I pulled back further on the power to avoid hitting the pine tree the aircraft brushed the tree and then started a slip to the left toward the ground.' The airplane subsequently collided with the runway. Examination of the airplane did not disclose evidence of mechanical malfunction.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 19,500 hours in all; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 23, 1997; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 12:37 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 1,600 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from PSM, 15 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.