- Date
- August 4, 2008, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Big Sping, TX
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N793TWCollard Dragonfly
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 26, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20080804841669A
- Case key
- 68652
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
Loss of aircraft control due to inadvertent penetration of a dust devil.
Findings · 1
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
The private pilot reported departing the airport in "challenging wind and [thermal] conditions." An automated weather reporting facility on the airport reported winds 50 degrees from runway heading at 11 knots gusting to 19 knots. After six successful touch-and-gos, the pilot entered the traffic pattern for a seventh approach. While turning base to final the pilot experienced a loss of aircraft control and impacted terrain. The pilot reported that dust devils were "prevalent in the area at that time."
Factual narrative
The private pilot reported departing the airport in "challenging wind and [thermal] conditions." An automated weather reporting facility on the airport reported winds 50 degrees from runway heading at 11 knots gusting to 19 knots. After six successful touch-and-gos, the pilot entered the traffic pattern for a seventh approach. While turning base to final the pilot experienced a loss of aircraft control and impacted terrain. The pilot reported that dust devils were "prevalent in the area at that time."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N793TW
- Reported as
- Collard Dragonfly
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 089
- Airframe hours
- 64
- Engine
- Hirth 3701, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Colorado Aerosports LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · November 1, 2007
- Departed
- BPG · Big Sping, TX
- Airport
- BPG · Big Spring Mc Mahon-Wrinkle, runway 17R, 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
- 49
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 1, 2006
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 630 total · 39 in this make and model · 630 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 11 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 95 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- BPG
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.