- Date
- July 31, 1994, 08:47 local (13:47 UTC)
- Place
- Comfort, TX
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N60459Boeing A75
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 24, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940731019749A
- Case key
- 19127
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind and his failure to push the propeller lever full forward. Factors were the crosswind and the pilot's failure to follow the before takeoff checklist.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
After completing the runup the pilot failed to push the propeller lever to the full forward position. Witnesses observed a very slow acceleration and a long roll during the attempted takeoff. The left main landing gear came off the shoulder of the runway and the tire impacted a rut resulting in a loss of control. The airplane collided with the roof of a hangar and a utility pole at the departure end of the runway. A 10 knot crosswind existed 90 degrees to the runway.
Factual narrative
On July 31, 1994, at 0847 central daylight time, a Boeing A75, N60459, was substantially damaged during takeoff near Comfort, Texas. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and his passenger was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight.
According to witnesses, "the engine sounded like it was producing full power during the takeoff roll; however, the airplane appeared to accelerate at a very slow rate and the takeoff roll was much longer than any normal Stearman." The pilot stated that after completion of the run up, he forgot to push the propeller lever to the full forward position.
The wind for the takeoff from runway 35 was from 270 degrees at an estimated speed of 10 knots. The pilot added that the left main landing gear came off the asphalt shoulder of the runway and the tire impacted a rut which caused the airplane to swerve to the left towards the hangar. The aircraft struck the roof of the hangar followed by the right wing impacting a utility pole and windsock near the departure end of the airstrip.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N60459
- Reported as
- Boeing A75
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 75-139
- Airframe hours
- 596
- Engine
- Lycoming R-680-13, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Gill, Peter D.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 3, 1993 · 35 hours before
- Destination
- ERV · Kerrville, TX
- Airport
- 8XS9 · Rust, runway 35, 2,330 × 28 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 66
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 1,800 total · 500 in this make and model · 1,700 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,400 ft broken
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SAT, 30 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.