# NTSB FTW96LA180: Whistle Questair Venture M20, N68U, Watkins, CO, April 23, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 23, 1996, 12:52 local (18:52 UTC) - Place: Watkins, CO - Coordinates: 39.75048, -104.600677 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7505&lon=-104.6007&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 6, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19814 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA180 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19814/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA180 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to compensate for prevailing wind conditions and to maintain directional control. Factors were the gusting and quartering tailwind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - soft - Gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run - landing gear,nose gear - overload - Nose over, takeoff - roll/run ## Analysis The pilot said that as power was applied during his takeoff roll on runway 17, the left wing dropped due to engine torque. A right wind gust caused the airplane to swerve to the left and depart the runway. The nose wheel retract link broke when the nose wheel rolled into the dirt and the landing gear folded back, causing the airplane to nose over. The wind was from 320 degrees at 8 knots, with gusts to 16. ## Factual narrative On April 23, 1996, at 1252 mountain daylight time, a Whistle Questair Venture M20, N68U, sustained substantial damage while on takeoff roll at Front Range Airport, Watkins, Colorado. The private pilot/owner of the aircraft sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this local area personal flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the time of the accident. The pilot said he began his takeoff roll on runway 17. As power was applied, the left wing dropped due to the engine torque. A right wind gust caused the airplane to swerve to the left and depart the runway. The nose wheel retract link broke when the nose wheel rolled into the dirt and the landing gear folded back, causing the airplane to nose over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N68U-2013-08-07), registration cancelled 2013-08-07, S/N 68, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Whistle QUESTAIR VENTURE M20 (QUESTAIR V) - Registry model: [Whistle L Paul QUESTAIR VENTURE M20](https://openairdocs.org/model/whistle-l-paul-questair-venture-m20) (registry code 05620VD) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 68 - Airframe hours: 38 - Engines: Continental IO-550-G1B 280 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paul L. Whistle - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 11, 1995, 5 hours before - Departed: FTG - Destination: BJC, BROOMFIELD, CO - Airport: FTG, Front Range, runway 17, 8,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,184 total, 36 in this make and model, 1,870 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 8 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DEN, 7 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 19960423008299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960423008299A), Apr 23, 1996: Amtrjg QUESTAIR20, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. During takeoff roll, lost control of the aircraft and it flipped 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.