# NTSB MKC86LA169: David Gordon Whitman Tailwind, N3064, Valley Center, KS, August 11, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 10, 1986, 19:55 local (Aug 11, 1986, 00:55 UTC)
- Place: Valley Center, KS
- Coordinates: 37.830013, -97.369056 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8300&lon=-97.3691&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34230
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC86LA169
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34230/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC86LA169

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, standing - starting engine(s)
  - proper assistance - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft unattended/engine(s) running - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - starting procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, taxi
  - object - building(nonresidential) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT ROLLED FORWARD UNRESTRAINED AFTER THE PIC HAD STARTED THE ENG. THE ACFT WAS NOT MOORED BEFORE THE PIC ATTEMPTED THE HAND START. THE ACFT ROLLED A SHORT DISTANCE WHERE IT IMPACTED THE EDGE OF A BUILDING AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO QUESTION THE PIC AND OBTAIN FACTUAL INFORMATION FROM HIM AFTER THE ACCIDENT PROVED UNSUCCESSFUL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3064 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DAVID GORDON WHITMAN TAILWIND (WHITMAN TA)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: UNKNOWN UNKNOWN reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Leroy A. Witt
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; medical: unknown, unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ICT, 8 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 19860810038189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860810038189A), Aug 10, 1986: Amtrwt TAILWIND/, Valley Center, KS, Substantial damage. Unoccupied aircraft ran into a building after being hand propped. Pilot has refused to provide information.

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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