# NTSB GAA16CA018: Furgason James E Vans RV 4, N165DR, San Marcos, TX, October 12, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 12, 2015, 17:17 local (22:17 UTC) - Place: San Marcos, TX - Coordinates: 29.892499, -97.864166 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8925&lon=-97.8642&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 17, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: San Antonio FSDO (FAA) - NTSB case key (mKey): 92197 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA018 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92197/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92197 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA018 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and an impact with an airport sign. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Furgason James E VANS RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056081F), [All aircraft, 3,969 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Furgason James E VANS RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056081F), [All aircraft, 9,308 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Furgason James E VANS RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=056081F), [All aircraft, 1,014 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Furgason James E VANS RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=056081F), [All aircraft, 1,130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Furgason James E VANS RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056081F), [All aircraft, 4,590 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Furgason James E VANS RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056081F), [All aircraft, 3,656 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Furgason James E VANS RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056081F), [All aircraft, 10,154 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll, traveling about 45 to 55 knots, he encountered a crosswind. The airplane veered off the runway to the left into the wind and collided with a taxiway sign. The airplane came to a stop in grass adjacent to the runway. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. About the time of the accident, a routine aviation weather report at the airport reported the wind at 190 degrees true at 12 knots and the runway heading was 260 degrees magnetic, which resulted in an 11 knot crosswind component. ## Factual narrative The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll, traveling about 45 to 55 knots, he encountered a crosswind. The airplane veered off the runway to the left into the wind and collided with a taxiway sign. The airplane came to a stop in grass adjacent to the runway. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. METEORLOGICAL INFORMATION About the time of the accident, a routine aviation weather report at the airport reported the wind at 190 degrees true at 12 knots and the runway heading was 260 degrees magnetic, which resulted in an 11 knot crosswind component. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N165DR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N165DR-2018-03-13), registration cancelled 2018-03-13, S/N 197, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FURGASON JAMES E VANS RV 4 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Furgason James E VANS RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/furgason-james-e-vans-rv-4) (registry code 056081F) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-B1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-b1a) (registry code 41857, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 197 - Year built: 1986 - Airframe hours: 862 - Engines: Superior IO-360-B1A 185 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 22, 2015 - Departed: BAZ, NEW BRAUNFELS, TX - Destination: HYI, San Marcos, TX - Airport: HYI, San Marcos Muni, runway 26, 6,330 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 17, 2015; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 304.2 total, 212.1 in this make and model, 304.2 as pilot in command, 3.2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0.6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: KHYI ## 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 20151012020969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151012020969A), Oct 12, 2015: Furgason James E VANS RV-4, San Marcos, TX, Substantial damage. While on landing rollout, the pilot encountered a crosswind causing the aircraft to veer off to the side of the runway striking a taxiway sign and two - three… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92197. 535 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 466 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434945&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434946&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.