- Date
- May 5, 2012, 06:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place
- Heber-Overgaard, AZ
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3442VCessna 195
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 28, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120505007459A
- Case key
- 83562
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 loss of directional control during takeoff roll upon encountering a wind gust.
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, on takeoff roll, just after the tail came up, the airplane encountered a right quartering tailwind gust, which forced the airplane off the left side of the runway. The pilot subsequently corrected back to the right, and the airplane crossed the runway, a gully, and a taxiway. He then intentionally applied right brake and ground looped the airplane to avoid colliding with a hangar, which resulted in the collapse of both main landing gears. A postcrash fire erupted shortly thereafter, which consumed the airplane.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that on takeoff roll just after the tail came up he encountered a right quartering tail wind gust, which forced the airplane off of the left side of the runway. The pilot subsequently corrected back to the right but crossed the runway, a gully and a taxiway. He then intentionally applied right brake and ground looped the airplane to avoid colliding with a hangar, which resulted in the collapse of both main landing gear. A post crash fire erupted shortly thereafter, which consumed the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3442V
- Reported as
- Cessna 195 (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7146
- Airframe hours
- 2,590
- Engine
- Jacobs 755 A2, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Richard J Adams
- Registered owner
- Richard J Adams
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 3, 2011 · 25 hours before
- Departed
- AZ82 · Heber-Overgaard, AZ
- Destination
- SDL · Scottsdale, AZ
- Airport
- AZ82 · Overgaard Airport, runway 21, 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
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 25, 2011
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,165 total · 535 in this make and model · 2,165 as pilot in command · 11 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
- Observed at
- SOW, 27 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 8.1 MB 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.
Other investigations on N3442V · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.