# Accident 19990506021699A: Amtr RV3A, Casa Grande, AZ, May 6, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: May 6, 1999, 15:50 local time - Place: Casa Grande, AZ - Airport: Casa Grande Municipal Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 32.9549° N, 111.7668° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CASA GRANDE MUNI (CGZ), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9549&lon=-111.7668&mi=10 - Aircraft: N5287U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5287U-2009-04-23) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Widner Jack Allen RV-3A (registry code 05625XT, https://openairdocs.org/model/widner-jack-allen-rv-3a) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMTR RV3A - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 1,435 total, 198 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA171) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990506021699A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON MAY 6, 1999, AT 1550 HOURS MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, AN EXPERIMENTAL WIDNER RV-3A, N5287U, LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON TAKEOFF AND VEERED OFF RUNWAY 5 AT THE CASA GRANDE, ARIZONA, AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT, OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT UNDER 14 CFR PART 91, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED FOR THE PERSONAL CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT THAT ORIGINATED FROM THE NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA, AIRPORT HE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT AND HAD MADE AN EN ROUTE FUEL STOP AT CASA GRANDE. THE FLIGHT WAS SCHEDULED TO TERMINATE AT THE DEMING, NEW MEXICO, AIRPORT. REPORTED WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE FROM 300 DEGREES AT 4 KNOTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD STOPPED AT CASA GRANDE AIRPORT FOR REFUELING PURPOSES. HE STATED THAT ON TAKEOFF HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL "POSSIBLY FROM THE CROSSWINDS." (-23)THE PILOT TOOK OFF IN HIS AIRCRAFT ON RUNWAY 5 AT THE CASA GRANDE AIRPORT. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT STATED HEARING A RADIO CALL THAT ANOTHER AIRCRAFT WAS GOING TO LAND ON RUNWAY 23. THE PILOT STARTED LOOKING AROUND, WHEN HE LOOKED BACK, HIS AIRCRAFT WAS WEATHERVANED 45 DEGREES TO THE LEFT. T HE PILOT STATED, THAT HE TRIED TO CORRECT WITH FULL RIGHT RUDDER, AND THAT THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN CORRECTION OF HIS AIRCRAFT, HE TRIED ADDING FULL THROTTLE AND PULLED BACK ON THE CONTROL STICK. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. (.4)PRIOR TO DEPARTURE ON RUNWAY 5, THE PILOT CHECKED THE WINDSOCK AND NOTED A 90-DEGREE CROSSWIND AT SPEEDS FROM 5 TO 10 MPH. HE MADE THE DECISION TO CONTINUE WITH THE DEPARTURE. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, HE BECAME DISTRACTED AFTER HE HEARD ANOTHER AIRPLANE RADIO INTENTIONS TO LAND ON RUNWAY 23 AND HE LOOKED UP TO FIND THE TRAFFIC. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WEATHERVANED 45 DEGREES INTO THE WIND, VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY, AND NOSED OVER. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB LAX99LA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA171), May 6, 1999: Widner RV-3A (N5287U), Casa Grande, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind condition and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. The pilot's distraction in looking for the… From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.