# NTSB GAA19CA550: Pzl Okecie PZL104, N123T, Reno, NV, September 16, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 16, 2019, 10:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Reno, NV
- Coordinates: 39.668056, -119.876388 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6681&lon=-119.8764&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 17, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100275
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA550
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100275/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100275
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA550

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain bank control during takeoff in gusting crosswind conditions, resulting in a loss of control in flight and subsequent impact with terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [EADS PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-104MA WILGA 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=7360321), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [EADS PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-104MA WILGA 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7360321), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [EADS PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-104MA WILGA 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7360321), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [EADS PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-104MA WILGA 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7360321), [All aircraft, 1,008 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.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [EADS PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-104MA WILGA 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7360321), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [EADS PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-104MA WILGA 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7360321), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [EADS PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-104MA WILGA 2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7360321), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that prior to departure, while he refueled the airplane and taxied to the runway, the wind was "picking up and gusting" but "were comfortably within [his] personal and aircraft limits." During takeoff, as he "rolled on the power," the right wing started to lift so he corrected with full control input left but the airplane rolled to the right and impacted terrain. The pilot added that he did not get a wind check The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was 220° at 24 knots, gusting to 38 knots. The airplane was departing from runway 26. According to the manufacturer's Pilot's Operating Handbook for an unmodified airplane, the maximum demonstrated crosswind is 11.7 knots. The steady state crosswind component for the accident flight was 15 knots, with gusting winds, the crosswind component for the accident flight was 24 knots.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that prior to departure, while he refueled the airplane and taxied to the runway, the wind was "picking up and gusting" but "were comfortably within [his] personal and aircraft limits." During takeoff, as he "rolled on the power," the right wing started to lift so he corrected with full control input left but the airplane rolled to the right and impacted terrain. The pilot added that he did not get a wind check The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation station reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was 220° at 24 knots, gusting to 38 knots. The airplane was departing from runway 26. According to the manufacturer's Pilot's Operating Handbook for an unmodified airplane, the maximum demonstrated crosswind is 11.7 knots. The steady state crosswind component for the accident flight was 15 knots, with gusting winds, the crosswind component for the accident flight was 24 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N123T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N123T), registered now, S/N 00060024, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Pzl Okecie PZL104 (M)
- Registry model: [EADS PZL Warszawa-Okecie PZL-104MA WILGA 2000](https://openairdocs.org/model/eads-pzl-warszawa-okecie-pzl-104ma-wilga-2000) (registry code 7360321) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A-28 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-28-series) (registry code 52142, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 00060024
- Year built: 2008
- Airframe hours: 695
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6-28 680 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 10, 2019
- Departed: RTS, Reno, NV
- Destination: SPK, Spanish Fork, UT
- Airport: RTS, Reno/Stead, runway 26, 7,608 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 10,350 total, 300 in this make and model, 9,700 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 24 knots, gusting 38
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observed at: KRTS

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 21, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100275. 1.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 591 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478224&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Flight Review Correction (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478225&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Flight%20Review%20Correction%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF
- POH Information (item 3, .PDF, 273 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478226&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=POH%20Information-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 304 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478227&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.

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