- Date
- October 14, 2017, 13:45 local (20:45 UTC)
- Place
- Othello, WA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N8432Himsl Vincent S Vans RV-8
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 14, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20171014014649A
- Case key
- 96210
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 in crosswind conditions.
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
According to the pilot in the experimental, amateur-built, tailwheel-equipped airplane, during the takeoff roll on runway 25, the airplane weathervaned into the 11-knot crosswind from the south. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and struck a precision approach path indicator (PAPI) light, but the pilot continued the takeoff. During the initial climb, the passenger reported smelling fuel, but the airplane remained airborne until the fuel in the right tank was exhausted. The pilot further reported that he was unsure if the landing gear were damaged, and he was unable to contact anyone at the airport to verify the landing gear's condition. He flew to a nearby airport, where the tower controller confirmed that the landing gear appeared undamaged. The pilot landed the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing spar and the elevator. The nearest METAR to the accident airport reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 200° at 10 knots. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot in the experimental amateur built, tailwheel-equipped airplane, during the takeoff roll on runway 25, the airplane weathervaned into the 11kt crosswind from the south. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and struck a precision approach path indicator (PAPI) light, but the pilot continued the takeoff. During the initial climb the passenger reported smelling fuel, but the pilot remained airborne until the fuel in the right tank was exhausted. The pilot further reported that he was unsure if the landing gear was damaged and he was unable to contact anyone at the airport to verify the landing gear's condition. He flew to a nearby airport, where the tower confirmed that the landing gear appeared undamaged. The pilot landed the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing spar and the elevator. The nearest METAR to the accident airport, reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 200° at 10kts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8432
- Reported as
- Himsl Vincent S Vans RV-8 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 80296
- Built
- 2008
- Airframe hours
- 201
- Engine
- Aero Sport Power O-360-A2A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 31, 2017
- Departed
- M94 · Mattawa, WA
- Destination
- S94 · Colfax, WA
- Airport
- S70 · Othello Muni, runway 25, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Heads up display, Electronic multifunction display, Angle of attack indicator, Stall warning system
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
- 68
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 9, 2016
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 570 total · 201 in this make and model · 509 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.48 inHg
- Observed at
- KPSC, 13 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 2, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.8 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.