| Crash location | 32.426945°N, 111.389444°W |
| Nearest city | Marana, AZ
32.436738°N, 111.225382°W 9.6 miles away |
| Tail number | N1296 |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 04 Feb 2001 |
| Aircraft type | Storey MK 7 |
| Additional details: | None |
On February 4, 2001, at 1400 hours mountain standard time, an amateur-built experimental Storey MK 7, N1296, collided with terrain during takeoff and initial climb from a glider port in Marana, Arizona. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, received only minor injuries. The airplane was being operated by the owner/pilot as a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight was originating from the El Tiro Glider Port near Marana, and was en route to Eloy, Arizona, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed.
According to the statement given by the pilot to Safety Board investigators, he took off in the direction of rising desert terrain and was unable to climb at a sufficient rate to clear it. The airplane was set down in a clearing. The airplane hit a hole during the landing phase and flipped over.
The pilot had logged 3,000 hours of total flight time with 15 hours in the model, and was also a certified flight instructor.
The pilot's inadequate preflight preparation with regards to runway choice, terrain, and performance capabilities of the airplane.