# NTSB DFW08LA012: Formhals RV-8, N628RV, San Antonio, TX, October 13, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 13, 2007, 10:34 local (15:34 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.723888, -98.694442 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7239&lon=-98.6944&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor; on the ground: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66890 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08LA012 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66890/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08LA012 ## Probable cause The automobile driver's failure to yield right-a-way to the airplane before crossing an active runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - clearance - not maintained, driver of vehicle (cause) - object - vehicle ## Analysis As the airplane's tailwheel lifted off the runway during the takeoff roll, the pilot saw an automobile moving onto the runway. The airplane had not yet obtained flying speed, and there was not sufficient runway space between the two vehicles to stop. The pilot pulled back on the flight control stick in an attempt to go over the automobile, but was not successful. The accident occurred in an area where an access road crossed the runway. ## Factual narrative On October 13, 2007, about 1034 central daylight time, a single-engine Formhals RV-8 tail-wheel equipped experimental airplane, N628RV, was substantially damaged during a collision with an automobile during takeoff from the Boerne Stage Field Airport (5C1), near San Antonio, Texas. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, and the driver of the automobile were seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the accident site, the collision occurred approximately 555-feet from the airplane's initial takeoff roll. The inspector further reported that the accident occurred near an access road that crossed the runway to a house. The airplane and vehicle came to rest in an upright position. A post crash fire did not ensue. The pilot and automobile driver were air lifted to a local hospital. The pilot later reported that as the tail-wheel lifted off the runway during the takeoff roll, he observed an automobile moving onto the runway. The airplane had not obtained flying speed and there was not sufficient runway space between the two vehicles to stop. The pilot further reported that he had pulled back on the flight control stick in an attempt to go over the automobile, but was not successful. Photographs provided to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) revealed that the airplane's wings and fuselage sustained structural damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N628RV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N628RV), registered now, S/N 80227, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Formhals RV-8 - Registry model: [Formhals Steven P RV-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/formhals-steven-p-rv-8) (registry code 0560761) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Airframe hours: 215 - Engines: Formhals ECI, Titan 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 1, 2007 - Departed: 5C1, SAN ANTONIO, TX - Airport: 5C1, Boerne Stage Field, runway 17, 4,340 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 2,255 total, 227 in this make and model, 2,201 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20071013828039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071013828039A), Oct 13, 2007: Amtr RV8, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On take off roll on runway 17, at Boerne Stage airport, Texas, a vehicle crossed the ruwnay impacting the aircraft, minor injuries, major damage to car… 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.