- Date
- September 23, 1991, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Williams, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2903VCallair A-3
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 24, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910923046799A
- Case key
- 27368
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 encounter with a strong and gusty cross-wind which suddenly developed in the area and his subsequent loss of control. Factors which contributed to the accident were the pilot's inadequate airspeed and inability to adequately compensate for the existing wind conditions.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that prior to taking off he had observed that the wind sock was 'limp'. The pilot took off from runway 18 and began climbing. At an estimated altitude of 10 to 20 feet above ground level, the pilot suddenly lost control of the airplane. The pilot reported that he had encountered a wind gust from 090 degrees at 35 knots. The airplane drifted off the runway, contacted the ground, impacted a ditch and collided with boulders. Witnesses to the accident reported that, at the time of the mishap, a light rain was falling, a thunderstorm was nearby, and gusty winds had suddenly developed in the area.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2903V
- Reported as
- Callair A-3
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 119
- Engine
- Continental C-145, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Muir M. Thompson
- Last inspection
- Unknown · January 2, 2000
- Destination
- GCN · Grand Canyon, AZ
- Airport
- P32 · Williams Muni, runway 18, 6,000 × 60 ft, asphalt
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
- 54
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 1,600 total · 500 in this make and model · 1,500 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 35 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.