- Date
- February 28, 2018, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Gatesvile, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1118FCessna 172
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 27, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180228005129A
- Case key
- 96808
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 initial climb in a gusty condition.
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
The pilot reported that he performed a soft field takeoff from the left side of the turf runway where it was firmer. The airplane climbed to 20 ft above ground level where it encountered wind gusts from the right. The airplane drifted to the left, collided with the wind sock pole, and then impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The nearest METAR reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 170° at 17 kts and gusting to 22 kts. The pilot reported in the recommendation section of the National Transportation Board pilot aircraft accident report, that the accident could have been prevented if he had initiated the takeoff from the center of the runway. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he performed a soft field takeoff from the left side of the turf runway where it was firmer. The airplane climbed to 20ft above ground level where it encountered wind gusts from the right. The airplane drifted to the left, collided with the wind sock pole, and then impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The nearest METAR reported that about the time of the accident, the wind was from 170° at 17kts and gusting to 22kts. The pilot reported in the Recommendation section of the National Transportation Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, that the accident could have been prevented if he had initiated the takeoff from the center of the runway. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1118F
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (G)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17254713
- Built
- 1966
- Airframe hours
- 4,091
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A4M, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Ecological Services International
- Registered owner
- Ecological Services International
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 4, 2018
- Departed
- PVT · Gatesvile, TX
- Destination
- PIL · Port Isable, TX
- Airport
- PVT · Private Airstrip, runway 13, 3,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking 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
- 74
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 23, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,090 total · 800 in this make and model · 3,090 as pilot in command · 38 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 17 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,300 ft broken
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.80 inHg
- Observed at
- KTPL, 5 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.5 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.