- Date
- August 24, 2006, 17:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place
- Erie, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N442EGordon Vans RV-6
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 29, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20060824018409A
- Case key
- 64398
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 directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind.
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 pilot stated that he encountered a gust of wind during the takeoff roll from runway 15. The airplane departed the runway to the right and impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. According to the routine aviation weather report (METAR) the winds were 070 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot estimated the winds to be 080 degrees at 8 knots, gusting to 12 knots.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, he encountered a gust of wind during the takeoff roll from runway 15 (4,700 feet by 60 feet, concrete). The airplane departed the runway to the right and impacted terrain. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane, both the left and right wing spars were bent aft, the left main landing gear separated and the empennage was wrinkled. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. According to the routine aviation weather report (METAR) recorded at Jefferson County Airport, located 7 miles southwest of Erie, the winds were 070 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot estimated the winds to be 080 degrees at 8 knots, gusting to 12 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N442E
- Reported as
- Gordon Vans RV-6
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 60090
- Airframe hours
- 181
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · April 1, 2006
- Departed
- EIK · Erie, CO
- Destination
- EIK · Erie, CO
- Airport
- EIK · Tri-County, runway 15, 4,700 × 60 ft, concrete
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
- 53
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 1, 2005
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 624 total · 46 in this make and model · 564 as pilot in command · 48 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 70° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Observed at
- BJC, 7 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.