- Date
- February 8, 2008, 11:46 local (16:46 UTC)
- Place
- New Smyrna Bch., FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N35YXSonex Waiex
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- Case key
- 67490
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 the takeoff. Contributing was the crosswind.
Findings · 3
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
During takeoff with a crosswind from the left side of the airplane, the pilot of an amateur built, tailwheel equipped, Waiex held "left aileron into the wind." The left wing then "lifted up," the airplane veered to the left, and the pilot reduced engine power to idle. The airplane; however, continued to veer to the left. It then exited the left side of the runway into the grass, and struck a runway marker damaging the left wing and propeller.
Factual narrative
During takeoff with a crosswind from the left side of the airplane, the pilot of an amateur built, tailwheel equipped, Waiex held "left aileron into the wind." The left wing then "lifted up," the airplane veered to the left, and the pilot reduced engine power to idle. The airplane; however, continued to veer to the left. It then exited the left side of the runway into the grass, and struck a runway marker damaging the left wing and propeller.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N35YX
- Reported as
- Sonex Waiex
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- W0035
- Airframe hours
- 18
- Engine
- Jabiru 3300A, 120 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · September 1, 2007
- Departed
- EVB · New Smyrna Bch., FL
- Destination
- EVB
- Airport
- EVB · New Smyrna Beach Municipal, runway 25, 5,000 × 75 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
- 62
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 1, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 268 total · 18 in this make and model · 202 as pilot in command · 18 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.11 inHg
- Observed at
- EVB