- Date
- July 26, 2015, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Portales, NM
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N299CBNorton Claude C Tailwind W8
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20150726010809A
- Case key
- 91636
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 adequate airspeed, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack while maneuvering and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.
Findings · 5
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 with an air density altitude near 7,400 feet, the pilot reported that the takeoff roll "seemed normal with a bit longer requirement as expected for high temperatures conditions". The pilot reported that after takeoff the climb performance was "low". He stated that the wind shifted direction during the initial climb; he maneuvered the airplane into the wind, and to avoid power transmission line wires and a highway by "gradual right turning". While maneuvering, the airplane settled into a "mushing descent" and impacted terrain. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. During the impact with terrain the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage.
Factual narrative
During the takeoff roll with an air density altitude near 7,400 feet, the pilot reported that the takeoff roll "seemed normal with a bit longer requirement as expected for high temperatures conditions". The pilot reported that after takeoff the climb performance was "low". He stated that the wind shifted direction during the initial climb; he maneuvered the airplane into the wind, and to avoid power transmission line wires and a highway by "gradual right turning". While maneuvering, the airplane settled into a "mushing descent" and impacted terrain. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. During the impact with terrain the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. The pilot reported as a recommendation that "it is far better to engage the ground in somewhat of a controlled condition rather than to act with reactionary mismanagement of control inputs to the point of stalling and falling".
Aircraft
- Registration
- N299CB
- Reported as
- Norton Claude C Tailwind W8 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 989
- Built
- 2002
- Airframe hours
- 210
- Engine
- Continental C-85-12F, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Widener Glenn E; Carol A. Widener
- Registered owner
- Widener Glenn E; Carol A. Widener
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 10, 2015
- Departed
- PRZ · Portales, NM
- Destination
- CVN · Clovis, NM
- Airport
- PRZ · Portales Muni, runway 19, 5,700 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device
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
- 70
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 1, 2014
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 6,280 total · 135 in this make and model · 5,480 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 4 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- KCVS, 15 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 14, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.6 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.