- Date
- February 28, 2014, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Fredericksburg, TX
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N30AWCessna A185F
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 5, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20140228003599A
- Case key
- 88997
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 directional control of the airplane during the takeoff with a gusting crosswind.
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
While taking off from runway 32, the airplane encountered a crosswind. As soon as the tailwheel came off of the runway, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with the application of right rudder and brake; however, the airplane continued off of the runway. The right wing dragged on the ground and the right main landing gear separated resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.Wind at the time of the accident was recorded as 240 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 14 knots.
Factual narrative
While taking off from runway 32, the airplane encountered a crosswind. As soon as the tailwheel came off of the runway, the airplane veered to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with the application of right rudder and brake; however, the airplane continued off of the runway. The right wing dragged on the ground and the right main landing gear separated resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.Wind at the time of the accident was recorded as 240 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 14 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N30AW
- Reported as
- Cessna A185F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18502369
- Built
- 1974
- Airframe hours
- 4,686
- Engine
- Continental Motors IO-550D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 9, 2013
- Departed
- T82 · Fredericksburg, TX
- Destination
- LZZ · Lampasas, TX
- Airport
- T82 · Gillespie County Airport, runway 32, 5,001 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
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
- 67
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 13, 2013
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 3,584 total · 416 in this make and model · 3,272 as pilot in command · 31 in the last 90 days · 10.5 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.82 inHg
- Observed at
- KT82
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 28, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 974 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.
Other investigations on N30AW · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.