# NTSB CEN12CA627: Schneider John W PT-2A, N6744J, Watkins, CO, September 4, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 4, 2012, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Watkins, CO - Coordinates: 39.784168, -104.537498 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7842&lon=-104.5375&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO Denver - NTSB case key (mKey): 85018 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA627 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85018/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85018 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA627 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of control during takeoff resulting in a runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was an unexpected wind gust. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schneider John W PT-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=056265N), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Schneider John W PT-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=056265N), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Schneider John W PT-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=056265N), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Schneider John W PT-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056265N), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Schneider John W PT-2A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056265N), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis After a preflight inspection of the tailwheeled airplane, the pilot did a run up, verified flight controls, checked engine instruments, and set his flight instruments. The pilot slowly applied full power and began the takeoff roll on the runway center line. Just after the tail lifted off the ground, an unexpected wind gust came from the right and the airplane veered to the left of centerline. The pilot began corrections by applying right rudder and another gust of wind raised the right wing the airplane veered further to the left. The pilot pulled the throttle to idle in an attempt to slow down and abort the takeoff. As the airplane began to stabilize, the pilot thought that he could continue the takeoff so he began to apply full throttle, but the airplane continued to veer to the left. The pilot then immediately pulled the throttle back to idle as the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The pilot thought that he had the airplane under control at that point. While rolling on dirt aside the runway surface, the tailwheel ran over a hole and dug into the dirt and the right main wheel dug into the dirt. The pilot said that this caused the airplane to stop rolling forward. The airplane started to slide sideways and the right wing hit the ground, resulting in structural damage to the wing. The airplane came to a stop and the pilot exited the airplane uninjured. After the accident, the pilot stated that if the tailwheel of the airplane had not dug into the hole, he could have salvaged the runway departure without damage to the airplane. ## Factual narrative After a preflight inspection of the tailwheeled airplane, the pilot did a run up, verified flight controls, checked engine instruments, and set his flight instruments. The pilot slowly applied full power and began the takeoff roll on the runway center line. Just after the tail lifted off the ground, an unexpected wind gust came from the right and the airplane veered to the left of centerline. The pilot began corrections by applying right rudder and another gust of wind raised the right wing the airplane veered further to the left. The pilot pulled the throttle to idle in an attempt to slow down and abort the takeoff. As the airplane began to stabilize, the pilot thought that he could continue the takeoff so he began to apply full throttle, but the airplane continued to veer to the left. The pilot then immediately pulled the throttle back to idle as the airplane departed the left side of the runway. The pilot thought that he had the airplane under control at that point. While rolling on dirt aside the runway surface, the tailwheel ran over a hole and dug into the dirt and the right main wheel dug into the dirt. The pilot said that this caused the airplane to stop rolling forward. The airplane started to slide sideways and the right wing hit the ground, resulting in structural damage to the wing. The airplane came to a stop and the pilot exited the airplane uninjured. After the accident, the pilot stated that if the tailwheel of the airplane had not dug into the hole, he could have salvaged the runway departure without damage to the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6744J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6744J-2012-10-25), registration cancelled 2012-10-25, S/N 001, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHNEIDER JOHN W PT-2A - Registry model: [Schneider John W PT-2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/schneider-john-w-pt-2a) (registry code 056265N) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Airframe hours: 7 - Engines: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Schneider John W - Registered owner: Schneider John W - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 22, 2012, 2 hours before - Departed: FTG, Watkins, CO - Destination: FTG, Watkins, CO - Airport: FTG, Front Range, runway 17, 8,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 10, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 490 total, 7 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 8 knots, gusting 3 - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: FTG ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20120904017839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120904017839A), Sep 4, 2012: Schneider John W PT-2A, Watkins, CO, Substantial damage. On sep 4, 2012 @ approx. 0829HRS MDT, N6744J, a pro-tech PT-2A experimental, veered off rwy 17 at ftg, sustaining substantial damage. 1 POB, no injuries. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 19, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85018. 416 KB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396375&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396376&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo 1 Airplane Tire Tracks Veering off Runway (item 3, .PDF, 141 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396377&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20Airplane%20Tire%20Tracks%20Veering%20off%20Runway-Master.PDF - Photo 2 Airplane Damage (item 4, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396378&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20Airplane%20Damage-Master.PDF - Photo 3 Closeup of Right Wing Damage (item 5, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396379&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20Closeup%20of%20Right%20Wing%20Damage-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.