# NTSB FTW80DA120: Dehavilland DHC-6, N46RA, Wichita Falls, TX, September 21, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 21, 1980
- Place: Wichita Falls, TX · WICHITA FALLS, TX
- Location: 33.9137° N, 98.4934° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wichita Falls, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9137&lon=-98.4934&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 16 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 2, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 128616
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW80DA120
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80DA120

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2769  80/9/21    WICHITA FALLS,TX    DEHAVILLAND DHC-6   CR-  0  0  2  COMMERCIAL                AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1320                    N46RA               PX-  0  0 14  COMMUTER AIR CARRIER      28, 2166 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG S-D        1053 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WICHITA FALLS MUN
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WICHITA FALLS,TX            DALLAS,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - GUST LOCKS ENGAGED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFING RECEIVED-METHOD UNKNOWN
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     HEAD WIND 338-022 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           97                                                      180
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           20                                                      VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- TKOF W CTL LOCK INSTLD.PIC REMOVED CTL LOCK BFR IMPACT.WND GSTG 30KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N46RA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N46RA-2012-12-07), registration cancelled 2012-12-07, S/N 606, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC-6
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-6-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-6-300) (registry code 2802630) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Wichita Falls Mun

## 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 19800921042509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800921042509A), Sep 21, 1980: Dhav DHC6300, Wichita Falls, TX, Substantial damage. Nosed up near stall on takeoff. Pilot removed control lock, recovered to high sink rate at ground impact.

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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