- Date
- May 3, 2012, 14:40 local (19:40 UTC)
- Place
- Redwood Falls, MN
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N102GWGalloway/Ward RV-4
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 15, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- Case key
- 83569
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 failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff in gusty wind conditions.
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 airplane encountered a wind gust on takeoff roll, which lifted the right wing and caused the airplane to roll left. The airplane then lifted off the ground about 2-3 feet, and the pilot aborted the takeoff. The airplane touched down on the left landing gear as it was drifting to the left, and the gear collapsed. Then, the right landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck a runway light as the airplane exited the side of the runway. The pilot said that the firewall, left wing spar, and an engine mount were damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airframe or engine. He also stated that he should have been more aware of the possibility of sudden wind gusts and wind shear during takeoff.
Factual narrative
The airplane encountered a wind gust on takeoff, which lifted the right wing and caused the airplane to roll left. The airplane then lifted off the ground about 2-3 feet and the pilot tried to abort the takeoff. The airplane touched down on the left landing gear as it was drifting to the left, and the gear collapsed. Then, the right landing gear collapsed and the left wing struck a runway light as it exited the side of the runway. The pilot said the firewall, left wing spar, and an engine mount were damaged. The pilot reported there were no mechanical anomalies with the airframe or engine. He also stated that he should have been more aware of the possibility of sudden wind gusts and wind shear during takeoff.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N102GW
- Reported as
- Galloway/Ward RV-4
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- GW 102
- Airframe hours
- 1,303
- Engine
- Lycoming 0-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Stegmaier Ann C
- Registered owner
- Stegmaier Ann C
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · September 9, 2011
- Departed
- RWF · Redwood Falls, MN
- Destination
- RWF · Redwood Falls, MN
- Airport
- RWF · Redwood Falls Municipal, runway 30, 4,001 × 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
- 68
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 29,150 total · 200 in this make and model · 22,000 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 8 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.87 inHg
- Observed at
- RFW, 1 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 21, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 619 KB in all.