# NTSB GAA20CA036: Titan Titan Tornado II, N49PD, Marble Canyon, AZ, October 18, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 18, 2019, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Marble Canyon, AZ - Coordinates: 36.810832, -111.644447 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8108&lon=-111.6444&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100453 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100453/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100453 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA036 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with sand hummocks. ## 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: [Pardee Stuart F TITAN TORNADO II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05609L0), [All aircraft, 3,958 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: [Pardee Stuart F TITAN TORNADO II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05609L0), [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: [Pardee Stuart F TITAN TORNADO II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05609L0), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Pardee Stuart F TITAN TORNADO II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=05609L0), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/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 on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Pardee Stuart F TITAN TORNADO II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05609L0), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Pardee Stuart F TITAN TORNADO II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05609L0), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, a "gust came up," and the airplane exited the runway to the right onto sand hummocks, and the landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, a "gust came up" and the airplane exited the runway to the right on to the sand hummocks, the landing gears collapsed, and the airplane impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on an airport about 12 nm away reported that, about 15 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 350° at 6 knots. The pilot reported that the was variable at 5 knots, gusting up to 15 knots. The airplane departed on runway 21. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N49PD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N49PD-2022-01-29), registration cancelled 2022-01-29, S/N D98912SOHK0310 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Titan TITAN TORNADO II (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Pardee Stuart F TITAN TORNADO II](https://openairdocs.org/model/pardee-stuart-f-titan-tornado-ii) (registry code 05609L0) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: D98912SOHK0310 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 620 - Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 22, 2018 - Departed: L41, Marble Canyon, AZ - Destination: PGA, Page, AZ - Airport: L41, Marble Canyon, runway 21, 3,715 × 35 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 9, 2018; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 694.7 total, 480.7 in this make and model, 598 as pilot in command, 13.6 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 5.3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots, gusting 15 - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point -9 °F - Observed at: KPGA, 12 nm away ## 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 20191018020629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191018020629A), Oct 18, 2019: Pardee Stuart F TITAN TORNADO II, Marble Canyon, AZ, Substantial damage. Pilot was departing from runway 21 in a Titan Tornado II. He reported strong wind conditions, and was struggling to maintain directional control. The runway is… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 24, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100453. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480209&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 277 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480210&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. --- 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.