Amateur-built GLASTAR accident near Smiley Creek, Idaho, June 27, 2010
On June 27, 2010 at about 2:00 am local time, a amateur-built GLASTAR, registered N51MW, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Smiley Creek, Idaho (Smiley Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to not use all available runway length and his delay in aborting the takeoff, which resulted in the airplane sliding off the end of the grass strip and colliding with a ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2010 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Smiley Creek, Idaho · Smiley Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GLASTAR
- Registration
- N51MW · no longer on the register · serial 5586
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had been landing and departing from the grass strip numerous times earlier in the day. For the accident flight, he was attempting to perform a midfield takeoff. During the departure roll, the airplane momentarily became airborne and then settled back into the wet grass and slowed. He opted to immediately abort the takeoff by retarding the throttle control and applying brakes. The airplane then slid off the end of the grass strip and collided with a ditch, incurring damage to the right wing and tail. The pilot reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Wet › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Runway/landing area length › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 510 hours in all; 96 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 16, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 498 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 3, 2010; 111 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U87 Smiley Creek ID at 2:00 am
- Destination: U87 Smiley Creek ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 4,900 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from KSNT, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.