- Date
- April 30, 2015, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place
- Tunica, MS
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N91WDWilliam D Durkee RV-6
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 9, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20150430005499A
- Case key
- 91108
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 directional control during the takeoff roll.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
During the takeoff roll on runway 35, the pilot stated he encountered a gust of wind that moved the tail of the tailwheel equipped airplane to the right. The airplane veered left and the pilot attempted to correct with right rudder but stated he did not apply enough. The right main landing gear collapsed during the event and the airplane departed the left side of the runway into the grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. Winds reported on the field near the time of the accident were 10 knots from 280 degrees. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
During the takeoff roll on runway 35, the pilot stated he encountered a gust of wind that moved the tail of the tailwheel equipped airplane to the right. The airplane veered left and the pilot attempted to correct with right rudder but stated he did not apply enough. The right main landing gear collapsed during the event and the airplane departed the left side of the runway into the grass. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. Winds reported on the field near the time of the accident were 10 knots from 280 degrees. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N91WD
- Reported as
- William D Durkee RV-6
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 20154WD
- Built
- 1991
- Airframe hours
- 1,365.4
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 7, 2014
- Departed
- KTKX · Kennett, MO
- Destination
- KUTA · Tunica, MS
- Airport
- UTA · Tunica Muni, runway 35, 8,500 × 150 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
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 262 total · 31.5 in this make and model · 203.3 as pilot in command · 5.8 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.87 inHg
- Observed at
- KUTA, 1 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 4, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.5 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.