# NTSB DFW06CA042: CASA 1.131E, N131AK, McKinney, TX, December 25, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 25, 2005, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: McKinney, TX - Coordinates: 33.240833, -96.558334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2408&lon=-96.5583&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Dallas, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 62998 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA042 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62998/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA042 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. A contributing factor was the pilot's helmet and goggles shifting while maneuvering. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - misc eqpt/furnishings,helmet - shifted (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The 3,500-hour private pilot departed Runway 36, (a 1,850-feet long by 75-feet wide grass/turf runway) and made a sharp right turn to avoid the airspace of an airport located 4 miles to the south. During the turn, the pilot's new helmet and goggles were blown away from his face by the airstream. The biplane then stalled, spun to the right, and impacted terrain. The airplane came to rest on its nose, inverted, with the tail of the airplane leaning against a telephone pole. The pilot disconnected his harness and egressed the airplane as a post-impact fire ensued. The pilot was uninjured. In the recommendation section of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot recommended that the accident could have been prevented had an adequate preflight been performed, and had he maintained an appropriate angle of attack to avoid the stall. ## Factual narrative The 3,500-hour private pilot departed Runway 36, (a 1,850-feet long by 75-feet wide grass/turf runway) and performed a sharp right turn to avoid the airspace of an airport located 4 miles to the south. During the turn, the pilot's new helmet and goggles were blown away from his face by the airstream. The biplane then stalled, spun to the right, and impacted terrain. The airplane came to rest on its nose, inverted, with the tail of the airplane leaning against a telephone pole. The pilot disconnected his harness and egressed the airplane as a post-impact fire ensued. The pilot was uninjured. In the recommendation section of the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot recommended that the accident could have been prevented had an adequate preflight been performed, and had he maintained an appropriate angle of attack to avoid the stall. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N131AK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N131AK), registered now, S/N E3B-216, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CASA 1.131E - Registry model: [Construcciones Aeronauticas C.A.S.A. 1.131E](https://openairdocs.org/model/construcciones-aeronauticas-c-a-s-a-1-131e) (registry code 2410101) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E3B-216 - Airframe hours: 330 - Engines: Lycoming IA-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Andres U Katz, doing business as Comanche Group INC - Registered owner: Comanche Group INC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2005, 20 hours before - Departed: TS63, McKinney, TX - Destination: KHQZ, Mesquite, TX - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: TS63, Square Air Airport, runway 36, 1,850 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2005; flight hours: 3,500 total, 330 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KTKI, 4 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20051225030289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051225030289A), Dec 25, 2005: Casa CASA1131E, Mc Kinney, TX, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot was departing air Square airport (TS63) heading 360, upon climb out witness stated that the aircraft began banking to the west (left) then suddenly… 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.