- Date
- March 24, 2012, 15:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place
- McKinney, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N589MJoy Vans RV-6
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 21, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Dallas FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120324003729A
- Case key
- 83217
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 did not maintain control of the airplane during takeoff, which resulted in a ground collision with airport construction materials.
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
The pilot reported that the tailwheel-equipped airplane started to veer to the left as he started the takeoff roll. He brought the tail up and applied a “little” right rudder. The airplane continued to veer to the left, the pilot applied full right rudder, and the airplane hit the edge of the runway. The pilot continued the takeoff with full power, but it became apparent that the airplane did not have enough airspeed for liftoff. He reduced the throttle to idle, but the airplane hit a construction flag barrier pole and concrete drainage pipes that were being installed between the new and existing runways. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that the tailwheel equipped airplane started to veer to the left as he started the takeoff roll. He brought the tail up and applied a “little” right rudder. The airplane continued to veer to the left and he applied full right rudder when it hit the edge of the runway. He kept full power in until it became apparent that he did not have enough airspeed for liftoff. He pulled the throttle to idle, but the airplane hit a construction flag barrier pole and concrete drainage pipes, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N589M
- Reported as
- Joy Vans RV-6
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 23613
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Michael D Butler and Judith K Butler
- Registered owner
- Michael D Butler and Judith K Butler
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- TKI · McKinney, TX
- Destination
- ETN · Eastland, TX
- Airport
- TKI · Collin County Regional, runway 17, 7,001 × 100 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
- 51
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 348 total · 35 in this make and model · 22 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.07 inHg
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 23, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.2 MB 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.