- Date
- March 21, 2013, 15:08 local (21:08 UTC)
- Place
- Dumas, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N132AAAviat A-1B
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 18, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-LUB-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20130321003779A
- Case key
- 86490
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 while taking off in gusty crosswind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to takeoff instead of waiting to ensure that the wind velocity had decreased.
Findings · 4
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 stated he ended a flying lesson with a student early because the wind speed was increasing and it was getting too turbulent. He intended to fly his airplane back to his home airport, but waited 5 to 10 minutes until the wind calmed down to 10 to 12 knots. He stated that the approach end of the runway was somewhat sheltered by buildings and hangars. During the takeoff roll, a “strong” gust of wind resulted in the airplane becoming airborne prematurely, with the right wing raised 45 to 50 degrees. The pilot was able to level the wings before the airplane settled back to the runway; however, the airplane traveled about 100 feet off the side of the runway where it contacted a drainage ditch and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing, vertical stabilizer and rudder, and fuselage. The takeoff was being made on runway 19. The local wind reported 13 minutes before the accident was from 230 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 20 knots. The wind reported 7 minutes after the accident was from 280 degrees at 23 knots gusting to 28 knots.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated he ended a flying lesson with a student early because the wind was picking up and it was too turbulent. He was then going to fly his airplane back to his home airport, but waited 5 to 10 minutes until the wind calmed down to 10 to 12 knots. He stated that the approach end of the runway was somewhat sheltered by buildings and hangars. During the takeoff roll, a “strong” gust of wind resulted in the airplane becoming airborne prematurely with the right wing raised 45 to 50 degrees. The pilot was able to level the wings prior to the airplane settling back to the runway. The airplane traveled about 100 feet off the side of the runway where it nosed over after contacting a drainage ditch resulting in substantial damage to the left wing, vertical stabilizer and rudder, and fuselage. The takeoff was being made on runway 19. The local wind reported 13 minutes prior to the accident was from 230 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 20 knots. The wind reported 7 minutes after the accident was from 280 degrees at 23 knots gusting to 28 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N132AA
- Reported as
- Aviat A-1B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2385
- Airframe hours
- 274
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1P, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- howard L. Patton
- Registered owner
- howard L. Patton
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2012 · 54 hours before
- Departed
- KDUX · Dumas, TX
- Destination
- X43 · Sunray, TX
- Airport
- KDUX · Dumas Moore County, runway 19, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 27, 2011
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 9,245 total · 83 in this make and model · 8,901 as pilot in command · 64 in the last 90 days · 26 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 13 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.44 inHg
- Observed at
- DUX
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 25, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 715 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.