# Accident 20150504006109A: Watson David E SKYBOLT, Carson City, NV, May 4, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 4, 2015, 09:30 local time
- Place: Carson City, NV
- Airport: Carson
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.1922° N, 119.7325° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1922&lon=-119.7325&mi=10
- Aircraft: N88FX, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88FX) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Watson David E SKYBOLT (registry code 05655HD, https://openairdocs.org/model/watson-david-e-skybolt) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1A (registry code 41818, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WATSON DAVID E SKYBOLT
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-360-A1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 443 total, 170 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA15CA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA060) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150504006109A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT STATED HIS APPROACH FOR LANDING RUNWAY 27 WAS NORMAL WITH A FLARE ON THE CENTERLINE.  JUST AT TOUCH DOWN THE RIGHT WING SUDDENLY LIFTED AND AIRCRAFT SWERVED LEFT INTO THE DIRT AT THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT SAID IT FELT LIKE A STRONG GUST, BUT IN HIND SIGHT HE BELIEVES IT TO HAVE BEEN A DUST DEVIL.  THE PILOT ADDED FULL POWER AND INITIATED A GO-AROUND.  THE PILOT WAS SEATED IN THE REAR SEAT POSITION AND WAS UNABLE TO SEE AN APPROACHING LIGHTED TAXIWAY DIRECTION SIGN. THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE SIGN WHICH BECAME LODGED IN THE LANDING GEAR FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FLIGHT.  SUBSEQUENT TO IMPACT, THE PILOT CHECKED CONTROLS, AIRSPEED AND CONFIRMED A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB.  THE PILOT SUSPECTED HE HAD DAMAGED THE LANDING GEAR AND CHOSE TO STAY CLOSE TO THE AIRPORT, TURN AROUND AND LAND ON THE RECIPROCAL RUNWAY. THE PILOT RETURNED FOR LANDING ON RUNWAY 09 WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## 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 GAA15CA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA060), May 4, 2015: Watson David E Skybolt (N88FX), Carson City, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane.

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.

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