- Date
- May 11, 2010, 08:50 local (13:50 UTC)
- Place
- Big Lake, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5502DQuicksilver GT-500
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 21, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20100511033519A
- Case key
- 75997
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 loss of control when the airplane unexpectedly encountered a downdraft shortly after takeoff.
Findings · 2
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
The pilot reported that, during takeoff and at about 150 feet above ground level, the airplane experienced a downdraft and the airplane started to descend. He added that there were no problems with the engine and he had full power, but that the airplane could not climb. The airplane then descended and impacted terrain and skidded along the ground before coming to rest in an inverted position. Additionally, he stated that the wind was from the south, at about 5 mph at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no preaccident anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, during take-off when he got about 150-feet in the air, the airplane experienced a downdraft and the airplane started to descend. He added that there were no problems with the engine, and he had full power, but the airplane could not climb. The airplane then descended and impacted terrain; skidded along the ground before coming to rest in the inverted position. Additionally, he stated that the wind was from the south, at about 5 mph at the time of the accident. The pilot did not report any anomalies with the airplane, prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5502D
- Reported as
- Quicksilver GT-500
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- GT5 TC0103
- Engine
- Rotax 582UL, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Neos Ltd
- Registered owner
- Neos Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- E41 · Big Lake, TX
- Destination
- New Orleans, LA
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- E41 · Reagan County Airport, runway 16, 4,032 × 50 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
- 61
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 7,600 total · 3,500 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.90 inHg
- Observed at
- KOZA, 31 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 379 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.