- Date
- October 10, 2007, 07:55 local (12:55 UTC)
- Place
- Taft, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5006KAir Tractor 402B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report December 20, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- San Antonio, Texas
- FAA report
- 20071010827149A
- Case key
- 66888
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 during takeoff. A contributing factor was the prevailing 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 640-hour commercial pilot, who reported having accumulated 10-hours in the same tailwheel equipped turboprop airplane, was attempting to depart from the 2,400-fot long, by 24-foot wide airstrip with a prevailing gusting crosswind. Shortly after takeoff from runway 03, the pilot was not able to compensate for the existing wind conditions and lost control of the airplane. The pilot responded with left rudder and aileron; however, the airplane continued to roll right until the right wing tip contacted the ground. The airplane subsequently cart-wheeled and came to rest in an upright position. The pilot was able to exited the airplane unassisted. An examination of the airplane revealed the left wing sustained structural damage. No pre-impact anomalies were found with the brakes, steering system or the airplane's flight controls. The winds at the time of the mishap were reported from 010 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 17 knots.
Factual narrative
The 640-hour commercial pilot, who reported having accumulated 10-hours in the same tailwheel equipped turboprop airplane, was attempting to depart from the 2,400-fot long, by 24-foot wide airstrip with a prevailing gusting crosswind. Shortly after takeoff from runway 03, the pilot was not able to compensate for the existing wind conditions and lost control of the airplane. The pilot responded with left rudder and aileron; however, the airplane continued to roll right until the right wing tip contacted the ground. The airplane subsequently cart-wheeled and came to rest in an upright position. The pilot was able to exited the airplane unassisted. An examination of the airplane revealed the left wing sustained structural damage. No pre-impact anomalies were found with the brakes, steering system or the airplane's flight controls. The winds at the time of the mishap were reported from 010 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 17 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5006K
- Reported as
- Air Tractor 402B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 402B-1024
- Airframe hours
- 3,970
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney PT6, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Hunts Ag-Air Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 1, 2007
- Departed
- HAA · Taft, TX
- Destination
- Taft, TX
- Airport
- HAA · Hunt's Ag-Air, runway 3, 2,400 × 24 ft, asphalt
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
- 30
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 1, 2007
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 640 total · 10 in this make and model · 35 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 10° at 9 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.