# NTSB FTW01LA055: Schmidt Questair Venture, N425V, Fort Worth, TX, January 30, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 30, 2001, 16:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Fort Worth, TX - Coordinates: 32.800895, -97.190597 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8009&lon=-97.1906&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 51413 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51413/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA055 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Factors were the crosswind and soft terrain condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot landed the airplane on runway 34R with a left crosswind. Immediately after the nose landing gear touched down, the airplane veered toward the left side of the runway. In an attempt to correct, the pilot applied maximum right rudder and brake. The airplane exited the left side of the runway, contacted soft ground, and the nose landing gear strut brace broke. As the nose of the airplane dug into the ground, the left wing tip dug into the dirt, and the left wing separated from the airplane. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. According to the pilot, the wind at the time of the accident was from 300 degrees at 14 knots. The reported wind at the airport 8 minutes after the accident was from 300 degrees at 10 knots. ## Factual narrative On January 30, 2001, at 1645 central standard time, a Schmidt Questair Venture single-engine experimental airplane, N425V, was substantially damaged after it impacted terrain during landing roll at the Fort Worth Mecham International Airport near Fort Worth, Texas. The airline transport pilot, sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight departed the Fort Worth Mecham International Airport at 1615. According to the pilot's written statement, he landed the airplane on runway 34R with a left crosswind. Immediately after the nose landing gear touched down, the airplane veered toward the left side of the runway. In an attempt to correct, the pilot applied maximum right rudder and brake. The airplane exited the left side of the runway, contacted soft ground, and the nose landing gear strut brace broke. As the nose of the airplane dug into the ground, the left wing tip dug into the dirt, and the left wing separated from the airplane. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. According to the pilot, the wind at the time of the accident was from 300 degrees at 14 knots. At 1653, the Fort Worth weather observation facility reported the wind was from 300 degrees at 10 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N425V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N425V-2025-05-03), registration cancelled 2025-05-03, S/N BS1, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schmidt Questair Venture - Registry model: [Schmidt Robert E QUESTAIR VENTURE](https://openairdocs.org/model/schmidt-robert-e-questair-venture) (registry code 05630DG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: BS-1 - Airframe hours: 128 - Engines: PMA 550-TTV 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert E. Schmidt - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2000, 14 hours before - Departed: FTW, Fort Worth, TX - Destination: Fort Worth, TX - Airport: FTW, Fort Worth Mecham, runway 34R, 7,501 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 15, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 30,291 total, 130 in this make and model, 25,000 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg ## 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 20010130002469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010130002469A), Jan 30, 2001: Amtr VENTURE, Fort Worth, TX, No damage. (-23) On January 30, 2001, at 1649 CST an experimental questair Venture aircraft, N425V owned by mr robert eugene schmidt[privacy data omitted] over… 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.