# NTSB FTW04LA222: Lancair 320, N30KR, Houston, TX, August 27, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 27, 2004, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 29.506111, -95.476669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5061&lon=-95.4767&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59996 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA222 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59996/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA222 ## Probable cause The pilot's premature lift-off before attaining adequate airspeed resulting in a stall and collision with the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - terrain condition - runway - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The 1,070-hour pilot reported that during takeoff on Runway 9 (a 5,000-foot long and 100-foot wide asphalt runway) the airplane became airborne, settled back onto the runway, exited the runway, before impacting a culvert at an intersecting taxiway. The pilot added that as the airplane became airborne, the "takeoff pitch was too steep" and he could not keep the airplane straight with rudder. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, the wind was from the southeast at 15 knots. ## Factual narrative On August 27, 2004, approximately 1530 central daylight time, an amateur-built Lancair 320 single-engine airplane, N30KR, registered and operated by a private individual, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain following a loss of control during takeoff from the Houston Southwest Airport (AXH) near Houston, Texas. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The cross-country flight was destined for the Southeast Texas Regional Airport near Beaumont, Texas. The 1,070-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that during takeoff from Runway 9 (a 5,000-foot long and 100-foot wide asphalt runway) the airplane became airborne at an airspeed of approximately 90 knots. The pilot added that when the airplane was approximately 3 feet above the ground, the "takeoff pitch was too steep," and the airplane settled back onto the runway drifting left of the runway centerline. Subsequently, the airplane exited the left side of the runway and impacted a culvert at an intersecting taxiway before coming to rest in an upright position. Examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the site of the accident, revealed that the nose wheel was folded under the engine. Both wings and the bottom side of the fuselage sustained structural damage. The engine firewall was also bent. At 1453, the automated weather observing system at the Sugar Land Regional Airport, located approximately 11 nautical miles northwest of AXH, reported wind from 140 degrees at 9 knots, visibility 10 statute mile, scattered clouds at 4,400, temperature 91 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 77 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.97 inches of Mercury. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, the wind was from the southeast at 15 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N30KR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30KR-2018-01-03), registration cancelled 2018-01-03, S/N 006, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Lancair 320 - Registry model: [Goetz Don LANCAIR 320](https://openairdocs.org/model/goetz-don-lancair-320) (registry code 056126L) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 006 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320-DIB 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Matthew R Koontz - Registered owner: Adam Courville - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: AXH, Houston, TX - Destination: BPT, Beaumont, TX - Airport: AXH, Houston Southwest Airport, runway 9, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 8, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 1,070 total, 1,048 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: SGR, 11 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 20040827023309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040827023309A), Aug 27, 2004: Amtr LANCAIR320, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft was departing runway 9 at Houston Southwest where it stalled shortly after take off and settled hard to the runway. Aircraft veered left where… 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.