- Date
- January 14, 1997, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- El Paso, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1030GJohn T. Garrett Baby Great Lakes
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 25, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970114000429A
- Case key
- 20144
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 failure to maintain control during takeoff.
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
The pilot reported that after a normal run-up at the hold short line, he taxied onto the runway and lined up on centerline for takeoff. With the 'stick just forward of neutral, and maintaining directional control with rudders', he slowly added power and began his takeoff roll. As the tail wheel lifted off the ground, he 'went to full power (2,500 RPM).' Subsequently, the airplane began to slide sideways toward the left side of the runway, and just as flying airspeed was attained, the aircraft 'began to porpoise.' After departing the runway surface, the airplane struck a fence and a sand dune, coming to rest inverted. According to the pilot, the entire event took about 5-10 seconds, and the airplane traveled 500 feet. The pilot/owner reported no mechanical problems with the aircraft.
Factual narrative
On January 14, 1997, approximately 1230 central standard time, a Garrett Baby Great Lakes homebuilt experimental bi-plane (tail wheel), N1030G, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during take off, from West Texas Airport, El Paso, Texas. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant and owner, received minor injuries. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot reported that after a normal run-up at the hold short line, he taxied onto the runway and lined up on centerline for take off. With the "stick just forward of neutral, and maintaining directional control with rudders", he slowly added power and began his take off roll. As the tail wheel lifted off the ground, he "went to full power (2,500 RPM)." Subsequently, the airplane began to slide sideways toward the left side of the runway, and just as flying airspeed was attained, the aircraft "began to porpoise." After departing the runway surface, the airplane struck a fence and a sand dune, coming to rest inverted. According to the pilot, the entire event took about 5-10 seconds, and the airplane traveled 500 feet.
The pilot/owner reported no mechanical problems with the aircraft. The aircraft sustained structural damage to the upper and lower left wings.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1030G
- Reported as
- John T. Garrett Baby Great Lakes (BABY GREAT)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 6523H-13-B
- Airframe hours
- 118
- Engine
- Continental C-85, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- John A. Russell
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 5, 1997 · 9 hours before
- Departed
- TX04
- Destination
- 74R · San Antonio, TX
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- TX04 · West Texas, runway 26, 4,035 × 50 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
- 62
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 1,265 total · 9 in this make and model · 790 as pilot in command · 13 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days · 9 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.