# NTSB ERA21LA017: North American Navion, N8698H, Palmetto, FL, October 11, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 11, 2020, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Palmetto, FL
- Coordinates: 27.642939, -82.520061 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.6429&lon=-82.5201&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102130
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA017
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102130/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102130
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA017

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusting crosswind conditions, which led to a runway excursion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [North American NAVION, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=6150130), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: airport structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [North American NAVION, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/cases.md?model=6150130), [All aircraft, 50 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [North American NAVION, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=6150130), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [North American NAVION, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=6150130), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [North American NAVION, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=6150130), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The commercial pilot was attempting to depart from a turf runway in gusting, left-quartering headwind conditions. He applied full power and was utilizing a soft-field takeoff technique. As the airplane began to lift off, it encountered a “large wind gust” from the left and departed the runway to the right. The pilot’s remedial actions had “no effect,” and the airplane impacted a row of hangars that ran parallel to the runway. The airplane was destroyed by impact damage and a postcrash fire. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have prevented normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8698H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8698H), registered now, S/N NAV-4-698, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN NAVION
- Registry model: [North American NAVION](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-navion) (registry code 6150130) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental E225 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-e225-series) (registry code 17015, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: NAV-4-689
- Year built: 1947
- Airframe hours: 4816.9
- Engines: Continental E-225 225 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 12, 2020, 40 hours before
- Destination: BKV, Brooksville, FL
- Airport: 48X, Airport Manatee, runway 25, 3,120 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 4,500 total, 234 in this make and model, 94 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 11 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 89 °F
- Observed at: 48X
- METAR: KSPG 111953Z 23011KT 10SM -RA FEW017 FEW023 SCT110 27/25 A2988 RMK AO2 RAB1857 SLP117 P0000 T02720250

## 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 20201011012069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201011012069A), Oct 11, 2020: North American NAVION, Palmetto, FL, Destroyed. On October 11, 2020 at 1310 eastern time zone, a North American Navion, N8698H, registered to [privacy data omitted], departed runway 25 (grass runway) at 48X…

## Other investigations on N8698H (1)

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.

- [NTSB MKC73DCG49](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC73DCG49), Jun 14, 1973: N.American Navion (N8698H), Independence, MO, substantial damage

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 18, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102130. 6.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11489221&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11489307&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20Greg%20Woodbridge-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 358 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11489128&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf

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.

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