- Date
- May 14, 2009, 13:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place
- Midland, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N225BCGrumman American Avn. AA-5B
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 9, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20090514006659A
- Case key
- 73836
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 student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
During the takeoff roll the airplane swerved left of the runway's centerline. The solo student pilot, who had obtained 16 total flight hours, corrected back to the runway's center before the airplane swerved to the left again. Electing to abort the takeoff, the student pilot closed the engine throttle and began to apply the brakes. The airplane then exited the left side of the runway and momentarily became airborne. Once back on the ground, the airplane's left wing tip impacted the airport perimeter fence and subsequently the airplane came to rest in an upright position. The student pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. An examination of the airplane revealed structural damage to the left wing. The student pilot later reported that there were no malfunctions or failures with the airplane's controls.
Factual narrative
During the takeoff roll the airplane swerved left of the runway's centerline. The solo student pilot, who had obtained 16 total flight hours, corrected back to runway's center before the airplane swerved to the left again. Electing to abort the takeoff, the student pilot closed the engine throttle and began to apply the brakes. The airplane then exited the left side of the runway and momentarily became airborne. Once back on the ground, the airplane's left wing tip impacted the airport perimeter fence and subsequently the airplane came to rest in an upright position. The student pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. An examination of the airplane revealed structural damage to the left wing. The student pilot later reported that there were no malfunctions or failures with the airplane's controls.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N225BC
- Reported as
- Grumman American Avn. AA-5B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- AA5B0464
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Permian Volo Inc
- Registered owner
- Permian Volo Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 16, 2009
- Departed
- MDD · Midland, TX
- Destination
- MDD · Midland, TX
- Airport
- MDD · Midland Airpark, runway 07, 5,022 × 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
- Student pilot
- Age
- 26
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 16 total · 9 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 8 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 578 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.