- Date
- September 28, 2008, 11:58 local (16:58 UTC)
- Place
- Montgomery, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N92TGGier Travis H Aventura II
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 22, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20080928848929A
- Case key
- 69048
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 of the airplane during takeoff. A contributing factor was the wind gust.
Findings · 2
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
Shortly after takeoff, the non-certificated pilot lost control of the amphibious airplane, impacting trees and the ground. The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot was able to exit unassisted. The airplane's wings and fuselage sustained structural damage. The pilot reported that a gust of wind had impacted the side of the airplane during takeoff and that he was unable to keep it out of the trees. The pilot further reported that there were no malfunctions or failures with the airplane's flight controls or engine.
Factual narrative
Shortly after takeoff the non-certificated pilot lost control of the amphibious airplane and impacted trees and subsequently the ground. The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot was able to exit unassisted. The airplane’s wings and fuselage sustained structural damage. The pilot reported that a gust of wind had impacted the side of the airplane during takeoff and that he was unable to keep it out of the trees. The pilot further reported that there were no malfunctions or failures with the airplane’s flight controls or engine.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N92TG
- Reported as
- Gier Travis H Aventura II
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- AA2A0109
- Airframe hours
- 138
- Engine
- Rotax 912, 100 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 25, 2008
- Departed
- None · Montgomery, TX
- Destination
- None · Montgomery, TX
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- None · Private Airstrip, runway 27, 1,000 × ft, dirt
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
- 64
- Injuries
- None
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 25 total · 25 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.09 inHg
- Observed at
- CXO, 10 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.