# NTSB FTW01LA125: Gideon Wittman Tailwind W8, N3GJ, Manvel, TX, May 22, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 22, 2001, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Manvel, TX - Coordinates: 29.479404, -95.350524 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4794&lon=-95.3505&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report July 1, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Avation Administration, Teledyne Continental Motors - NTSB case key (mKey): 52327 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW01LA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52327/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=52327 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01LA125 ## Probable cause the flight instructor's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a touch-and-go landing, for an undetermined reason. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The flight instructor and private pilot receiving instruction were executing touch-and-go landings on the 2,190-foot grass runway. The airplane landed, accelerated for takeoff, and lifted off the ground approximately 600-700 feet from the departure end of the runway. A witness reported that the airplane attained a height approximately 20 feet agl and "immediately the right wing dropped slightly, and corrected back to level." Subsequently, "the right wing dropped to about a 45-degree angle, stopped slightly, and then continued to drop to a full 90 degree down position." The airplane's right wing contacted the ground, the airplane began to cartwheel and came to rest against a tree. The airplane was consumed by a post crash fire. The airframe and engine were examined and no anomalies were found that would preclude normal operation of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On May 22, 2001, at 1800 central daylight time, a Gideon Wittman Tailwind W8 experimental, amateur-built airplane, N3GJ, was destroyed following a loss of control during takeoff from Wolfe Airpark Airport, Manvel, Texas. The flight instructor and the private pilot receiving instruction, who was the owner of the airplane, sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local flight had originated from the Wolfe Airpark Airport at an undetermined time. According to friends of the pilots, the flight was an instructional flight for the owner, focusing on the operation of tail wheel equipped airplanes. According to witnesses, the airplane was executing touch-and-go landings on runway 02. The airplane landed, accelerated for takeoff, and lifted off the ground approximately 600-700 feet from the departure end of the 2,190-foot grass runway. The airplane attained a height approximately 20 feet agl and "immediately the right wing dropped slightly, and corrected back to level." Subsequently, "the right wing dropped to about a 45-degree angle, stopped slightly, and then continued to drop to a full 90 degree down position." The airplane's right wing contacted the ground and the airplane began to cartwheel. The airplane came to rest 40 feet past the departure end of runway 02, in a near 90-degree nose down attitude, against a tree. The airplane was consumed by fire. Both pilots sustained multiple injuries, including burns to 90% of their bodies. On May 24, 2001, the flight instructor succumbed to her injuries, and subsequently, the private pilot succumbed to his injuries. According to the airplane's maintenance records, it was imported to the United States from Canada in July of 2000. On July 29, 2000, the airframe and engine underwent their most recent condition inspection, and had accumulated a total of 358.0 hours. On August 8, 2000, the airplane was issued a special airworthiness certificate by the FAA. The airplane's design drawings were provided to the NTSB and forwarded to the FAA inspector, who examined the airplane. The elevator hinge (drawing 2-112) and the stick controls (drawing 2-107) were examined. The inspector found no evidence of failed welds or any other anomalies. He reported that "flight control continuity was complete." The flap system was damaged; therefore, a flap setting could not be determined. On May 29, 2001, the engine was examined by an FAA inspector and a representative of Teledyne Continental Motors. The engine displayed external thermal damage. All of the engine accessories were attached to the engine except for the starter, which had separated, and the carburetor, which had partially separated. Crankshaft continuity was confirmed from the propeller shaft to the accessory section and to each of the cylinders. The top spark plugs were removed and a hand compression check was performed. According to the Teledyne Continental representative, the number one, two, and four cylinders produced "good" compression. The number three cylinder piston was observed to be moving; however, the intake pushrod was bent. The main oil screen was removed and observed to be free of contaminants. The carburetor and magnetos were disassembled and both displayed internal thermal damage. At 1753, the weather observation facility at the William P. Hobby Airport, Houston, Texas, (located approximately 10 miles north of the accident site) reported a few clouds at 12,000 feet, visibility 10 miles, temperature 84 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 42 degrees Fahrenheit, wind from 030 degrees at 10 knots and an altimeter setting of 29.98 inches of mercury. Additionally, witnesses at the airport reported that the sky was clear and that there was "light wind out of the north." The flight instructor had accumulated a total of 1,652.7 flight hours, of which 319.2 were in tail wheel equipped aircraft, and 356.4 were as a flight instructor. On March 31, 2000, she was issued a second class medical certificate, which contained a limitation for corrective lenses while exercising the privileges of her airman certificate. The private pilot had accumulated a total of 94.9 flight hours, of which 2.0 hours were in the accident airplane. On January 5, 2000, he was issued a third class medical certificate which contained a limitation for corrective lenses. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3GJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3GJ-2002-02-08), registration cancelled 2002-02-08, S/N GR 1, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Gideon Wittman Tailwind W8 - Registry model: [Rossouw Gideon WITTMAN TAILWIND W8](https://openairdocs.org/model/rossouw-gideon-wittman-tailwind-w8) (registry code 05610ND) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: GR-1 - Airframe hours: 358 - Engines: Continental AB-O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roy M. Adams - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 29, 2000 - Departed: 3T2, Manvel, TX - Destination: 3T2 - Airport: 3T2, Wolfe Airpark, runway 02, 2,190 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 8, 2000; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,653 total - Pilot; age 46; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 5, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 95 total, 2 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: HOU, 360 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010522011049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010522011049A), May 22, 2001: Amtr TAILWINDW8, Manvel, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. (.19)On may 22, 2001, at 1800 central daylight time, a gideon wittman tailwind W8 experimental, amateur-built airplane, N3GJ, was destroyed during takeoff from… ## Docket (13 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=52327. 2.5 MB in all. - Witness Statements (3) (item 1, .PDF, 254 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458714&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements%20(3)-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458716&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Engine Examination Report (item 3, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458718&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Examination%20Report-Master.PDF - Drawings (Airplane) (item 4, .PDF, 168 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40159790&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Drawings%20(Airplane)-Master.PDF - Maintenance Records (item 5, .PDF, 693 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458722&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Pilot Records (CFI) (item 6, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458723&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Records%20(CFI)-Master.PDF - Pilot Records (pilot receiving instruction) (item 7, .PDF, 290 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458724&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Records%20(pilot%20receiving%20instruction)-Master.PDF - Fuel Receipt (item 8, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40159794&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Receipt-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 9, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458725&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 10, .PDF, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458726&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo 01: Airplane in final resting position. (item 11, .PDF, 302 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40159797&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2001%3A%20Airplane%20in%20final%20resting%20position.-Master.PDF - Photo 02: Another view of the airplane in final resting positon. (item 12, .PDF, 253 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40159798&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2002%3A%20%20Another%20view%20of%20the%20airplane%20in%20final%20resting%20positon.-Master.PDF - Photo 03: Engine after removal from airplane. (item 13, .PDF, 155 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40159802&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2003%3A%20Engine%20after%20removal%20from%20airplane.-Master.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. --- 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.