- Date
- May 25, 1999, 13:27 local (17:27 UTC)
- Place
- Covington, KY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N79MHoward DGA-15P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 18, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990525045479A
- Case key
- 46438
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/initial climb. A factor in the accident was the crosswind condition.
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 received progressive taxi instructions to runway 18R, and was told to hold short, for landing and departing traffic. The airplane was then cleared for departure on runway 18R; however, the pilot made a right turn and departed runway 36L. During takeoff, the airplane 'weather vaned' into the wind and the pilot was unable correct for the crosswind by using rudder control. The pilot stated the airplane would not pick up speed for flight. The airplane then drifted off the left side of the runway, and 'dropped' to the ground. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions of the airframe or engine. A weather observation taken at the airport, at 1354, reported the winds were from 260 degrees, at 13 knots, with 24 knot gusts.
Factual narrative
On May 25, 1999, about 1327 eastern daylight time, a Howard DGA-15P, N79M, was substantially damaged when it struck the ground during the initial climb after takeoff from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Covington (CVG), Kentucky. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight destined for the Wendell H. Ford Airport, Hazard, Kentucky. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to air traffic control voice transcripts, the pilot received progressive taxi instructions to runway 18R, and was told to hold short, for landing and departing traffic. The airplane was then cleared for departure on runway 18R; however, the pilot made a right turn and departed runway 36L.
In a written statement, the pilot said the winds were from 260 to 280 degrees, at 15 to 23 knots, and he used the airplane's rudder to correct for the crosswind conditions. After lift off, the airplane "weather vaned" into the wind. The pilot stated there was "not enough rudder left to correct for [the] crosswind, [and] the airplane would not pick up speed for flight." The airplane drifted off the left side of the runway, then "dropped" to the ground.
During the impact, the airplane's right wing contacted the ground and partially separated.
The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions of the airframe or engine.
The pilot reported 541 hours of total flight experience, of which, 106 hours were in the make and model of the accident airplane.
A weather observation taken at the airport, at 1354, reported the winds were from 260 degrees, at 13 knots, with 24 knot gusts.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N79M
- Reported as
- Howard DGA-15P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 531
- Airframe hours
- 4,036
- Engine
- P&W R-985, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- William F. Fields
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 16, 1999 · 95 hours before
- Departed
- CVG
- Destination
- K20 · Hazard, KY
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- CVG · Cincinnati/No. Kentucky, runway 36L, 11,000 × 150 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
- 36
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 542 total · 106 in this make and model · 395 as pilot in command · 22 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 13 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CVG
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.