- Date
- November 27, 2009, 14:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place
- Llano, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9600PPiper PA-25-260
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 23, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration FSDO
- FAA report
- 20091127023199A
- Case key
- 75103
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 inadequate compensation for the gusting crosswind conditions and failure to maintain lateral and directional control.
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
The pilot reported that he was taking off in a gusting 15-knot left crosswind with a glider in tow. He said he was holding the aileron control to the left during the takeoff roll, and, as the airplane lifted off, it rolled immediately to the right. The pilot then applied full left aileron, but was unable to maintain control of the airplane and he released the tow rope. The airplane subsequently collided with terrain causing substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. The closest official weather reporting station, located 15 miles northwest of the accident site, indicated the winds were at 20 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The private airport was not equipped with official weather reporting facilities. Post-accident examination of the aircraft by FAA inspectors revealed no anomalies with the airplane's flight control systems.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he was taking off in a gusting 15-knot left crosswind with a glider in tow. He said he was holding the aileron control to the left during the takeoff roll, and, as the airplane lifted off, it rolled immediately to the right. The pilot then applied full left aileron, but was unable to maintain control of the airplane and he released the tow rope. The airplane subsequently collided with terrain causing substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. The closest official weather reporting station, located 15 miles northwest of the accident site, indicated the winds were at 20 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The private airport was not equipped with official weather reporting facilities. Post-accident examination of the aircraft by FAA inspectors revealed no anomalies with the airplane's flight control systems.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9600P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-25-260
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 25-7556113
- Airframe hours
- 5,303
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540 SERIES, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Glider tow · Part 91
- Operator
- Southern California Soaring Academy
- Registered owner
- Gregg Ronald S
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 8, 2009 · 106 hours before
- Departed
- 46CN · Llano, CA
- Destination
- 46CN · Llano, CA
- Airport
- 46CN · Crystal Airport, runway 25, 4,500 × 250 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
- 35
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 9, 2008
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 1,295 total · 71 in this make and model · 1,105 as pilot in command · 34 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.88 inHg
- Observed at
- PMD, 15 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 28, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 717 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.