- Date
- November 9, 2011, 15:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place
- San Carlos, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5089QCasler Scott CX-4
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 6, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20111109026609A
- Case key
- 82278
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 directional control during takeoff.
Findings · 2
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, during takeoff from an asphalt runway, the tailwheel-equipped airplane experienced a gust of wind from the left, and he was able to correct for it and maintain directional control. As the takeoff roll continued, the airplane encountered a second gust of wind from the left, and the airplane began to veer to the right. Despite the pilot's control inputs, he was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane exited the right side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane impacted trees adjacent to the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during takeoff from an asphalt runway, the tailwheel equipped airplane experienced a gust of wind from the left and he was able to correct for it and maintain directional control. As the takeoff roll continued, the airplane encountered a second gust of wind from the left and the airplane began to veer to the right. Despite the pilot's control inputs, he was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane exited the right side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane impacted trees adjacent to the runway, which resulted in structural damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5089Q
- Reported as
- Casler Scott CX-4
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 95
- Engine
- Ama/Expr UNKNOWN ENG, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Raymond Schafer
- Registered owner
- Raymond Schafer
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- San Carlos, AZ
- Destination
- Albuquerque, NM
- Airport
- 4AZ7 · San Carlos Airport, runway 14, 7,335 × 70 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
- 77
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane, Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 9,000 total · 5 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 45 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 77 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.20 inHg
- Observed at
- IWA, 60 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 16, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 53 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.