# NTSB WPR12LA211: Beech F33A, N5521A, Mobile, AZ, May 13, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 13, 2012, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Mobile, AZ - Coordinates: 33.111946, -112.269165 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1119&lon=-112.2692&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 15, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 83673 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA211 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83673/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83673 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA211 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that he applied takeoff power, and the airplane accelerated along the centerline of the runway. As the airplane accelerated through about 50 to 55 knots, it suddenly yawed to the left. Despite the student pilot's control inputs, the airplane continued to the left and exited the runway. Examination of the airplane's flight control system and nose wheel steering system revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On May 13, 2012, about 1430 mountain standard time, a Beech F33A, N5521A, sustained substantial damage during takeoff at the Mobile Airport (1AZ0), Mobile, Arizona. The airplane was registered to Airline Training Center Arizona, Inc, and operated as an instructional flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The student pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport (GYR), Goodyear, Arizona, about 1309. The student pilot reported that he was practicing a series of full stop landings and takeoffs at 1AZ0. The first three landings and takeoffs were uneventful and he noted that the wind was light, requiring almost no crosswind correction, however, he observed several "dust devils" near the airport and throughout the valley. The student pilot stated that as he taxied onto runway 9, a 4,500-foot long, 75-foot wide asphalt runway, the windsock indicated northerly wind from seven to eight knots and that the dust devil southeast of the airport could not be seen anymore. The student pilot applied takeoff power and the airplane accelerated along the centerline of the runway. As the airspeed accelerated through about 50 to 55 knots, the airplane suddenly yawed to the left and despite the student pilot's control inputs, continued to the left and exited the runway. Subsequently, the airplane struck several bushes to the left of the runway. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the inboard portion of the right wing was crushed aft. Additional damage was observed on the right horizontal stabilizer. The FAA inspector reported that flight control continuity was established throughout the airplane's primary flight control system. Examination of the nose wheel landing gear and steering linkages revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from a weather station located GYR, located about 19 miles north of the accident site, revealed at 1447 conditions were wind from 250 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 15,000 feet, temperature 39-degrees Celsius, dew point -1 degree Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.87 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: N5521A (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BEECH F33A - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CE-1338 - Airframe hours: 23536 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-520-BB65 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Airline Training Center Arizona Inc - Registered owner: Airline Training Center Arizona Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, April 22, 2012, 51 hours before - Departed: GYR, Goodyear, AZ - Destination: GYR, Goodyear, AZ - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: 1AZ0, Mobile Airport, runway 09, 4,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 29 total, 29 in this make and model, 2 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 102 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: GYR, 19 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20120513008439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120513008439A), May 13, 2012: Beech F33A, Mobile, AZ, Substantial damage. On may 13, 2012 during a take off roll, N5521A departed the runway at Mobile AZ during full stop taxi back landing practice. Mobile is a privately owned… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 23, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83673. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370439&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 500 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40370440&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.