- Date
- April 26, 1999, 09:26 local (13:26 UTC)
- Place
- Williamston, NC
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N31291Beech 36
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 21, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990426020809A
- Case key
- 46166
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate evaluation of winds that resulted in the loss of directional control during an attempted takeoff with a tailwind. A factor was the tailwind condition.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll he experienced a wind gust, and the left wing came up. The pilot elected to abort the takeoff. As the airplane settled back on the runway, it bounced, and veered off the left side of runway 3. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot. A review of existing weather data disclosed that the prevailing winds were 300 degrees at 9 knots. Other sources reported that the winds were out of the southwest at 10 knots. Examination of the pilot's certification data revealed that his medical certificate had expired.
Factual narrative
On April 26, 1999, at 0926 eastern daylight time, a Beech 36, N31291, veered off the left side of runway 3 and collided with the ground during an attempted takeoff from the Martin County Airport in Williamston, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot and his three passengers were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated in Williamston, North Carolina, at 0924.
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, he experienced a wind gust, and the left wing came up. The pilot elected to abort the takeoff. As the airplane settled back on the runway, it bounced, and veered off the left side of the runway. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot.
A review of existing weather data disclosed that the prevailing winds were 300 degrees at nine knots. Other sources reported that the winds were out of the southwest at ten knots. Examination of the pilot's certification data revealed that his medical certificate had expired.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N31291
- Reported as
- Beech 36
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- E-2432
- Airframe hours
- 1,096
- Engine
- Continental IO-550-B, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Reggie Spain
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- MCZ
- Destination
- Raleigh, NC
- Airport
- MCZ · Martin County Airport, runway 3, 3,696 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 38
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Unknown, Expired
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 386 total · 43 in this make and model · 43 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RWI
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.