- Date
- January 1, 2015, 16:07 local (23:07 UTC)
- Place
- Yuma, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2841NCessna 140
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 10, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- FAA report
- 20150101000239A
- Case key
- 90556
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 compensate for crosswind conditions during takeoff, which resulted in the loss of directional control and collision with terrain.
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 stated that he landed at a private airstrip earlier in the day and was departing with the intention of returning to his home airstrip. Prior to departure, he noted a left crosswind of about 15 mph. The initial phase of the takeoff was normal, and when becoming airborne, the wind lifted the left wing and the airplane drifted right over the adjacent field. The field was at a lower elevation, and with the loss of ground effect, the airplane sank resulting in the tail wheel colliding with the ground. Thereafter, the main landing gear impacted an irrigation pipe and the airplane flipped over inverted. During the accident sequence the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot further stated that the accident could have been prevented if they had waited for the wind to have subsided and/or performed the takeoff with the wing flaps extended. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that he landed at a private airstrip earlier in the day and was departing with the intention of returning to his home airstrip. Prior to departure, he noted a left crosswind of about 15 mph. The initial phase of the takeoff was normal, and when becoming airborne, the wind lifted the left wing and the airplane drifted right over the adjacent field. The field was at a lower elevation, and with the loss of ground effect, the airplane sank resulting in the tail wheel colliding with the ground. Thereafter, the main landing gear impacted an irrigation pipe and the airplane flipped over inverted. During the accident sequence the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot further stated that the accident could have been prevented if they had waited for the wind to have subsided and/or performed the takeoff with the wing flaps extended. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2841N
- Reported as
- Cessna 140 (G)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 13102
- Airframe hours
- 3,315
- Engine
- Continental O200, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Rovey James A
- Registered owner
- Rovey James A
- Airworthiness certificate
- None
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 5, 2014
- Departed
- Yuma, AZ
- Destination
- Buckeye, AZ
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
- 30
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 94 total · 89 in this make and model · 49 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.01 inHg
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 19, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 7.7 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 N2841N · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.