- Date
- July 6, 2000, 14:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place
- Taos, NM
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1800LBeech G18S
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000706006019A
- Case key
- 49641
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
Failure of the pilot receiving instruction to maintain directional control. Factors were a gusty crosswind, inadequate supervision by the flight instructor, and the runway light.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The private pilot receiving instruction initiated the takeoff on runway 22. At approximately 40 mph, she raised the tail off the ground in preparation for liftoff. The airplane veered to the left, and the flight instructor took control and aborted the takeoff. The airplane struck a runway light before coming to a stop on the left side of the runway. The flight instructor said that as power was increased for takeoff, the right throttle was advanced slightly ahead of the left throttle, and this, in combination with the gusty crosswind, caused the airplane to veer left off the runway. The wind was from 180 degrees at 17 knots (19 mph), with gusts to 24 knots (28 mph). This would present a 40 degree left quartering headwind. The airplane was not equipped with Geisse safety gear. According to the Crosswind Component Chart contained in the Beech G18S 'Flight Handbook,' the maximum safe crosswind component was not exceeded.
Factual narrative
On July 6, 2000, approximately 1410 mountain daylight time, a Beech G18S, N1800L, operated by Wild Blue Yonder, Inc., of Goldsby, Oklahoma, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during takeoff roll at Taos Municipal Airport, Taos, New Mexico. The commercial certificated flight instructor and private pilot receiving instruction were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the instructional flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was originiating at the time of the accident.
According to the instructor-pilot in command, the private pilot receiving instruction initiated the takeoff on runway 22. At approximately 40 mph, she raised the tail off the ground in preparation for liftoff. The airplane veered to the left and the instructor assumed control and aborted the takeoff. The right vertical stabilizer struck a runway light before the airplane came to a stop on the left side of the runway. In addition, some wing skin was found wrinkled, and the right main tire had deflated after striking sage brush.
The flight instructor told an FAA inspector that as power was increased for takeoff, the right throttle was advanced slightly ahead of the left throttle. He said this, in combination with the gusty crosswind, caused the airplane to veer left off the runway.
The wind, as reported by the pilot and as recorded by AWOS-3 (Automated Weather Observing System) about 5 minutes after the accident, was from 180 degrees at 17 knots (19 mph), with gusts to 24 knots (28 mph). This would present a 40 degree left quartering headwind.
N1800L was not equipped with Geisse safety gear. According to the Crosswind Component Chart contained in the Beech G18S "Flight Handbook," the maximum safe crosswind component was not exceeded.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1800L
- Reported as
- Beech G18S
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- BA-548
- Airframe hours
- 7,540
- Engine
- P&W R-985-AN14B, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Wild Blue Yonder, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 12, 1999 · 40 hours before
- Departed
- SKX
- Destination
- OUN · Norman, OK
- Airport
- SKX · Taos Municipal, runway 22, 5,798 × 75 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 28
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 2,590 total · 383 in this make and model · 2,370 as pilot in command · 48 in the last 90 days · 27 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 17 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SKX
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.