- Date
- May 18, 2021, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Byron, CA · Airport
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N16CXHarry Crosby RV-6
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20210518008509A
- Case key
- 103105
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 maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff while operating in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and subsequent 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 in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the takeoff roll, the wind was variable and gusting from the left. He initiated the takeoff roll and applied left aileron and right rudder pedal pressure. The tailwheel lifted from the ground about 40 knots ground speed and the airplane veered to the left. Subsequently the pilot applied full right rudder and simultaneously applied full left aileron, but the airplane exited the left side of the runway. The pilot continued the takeoff roll as he believed that the airplane would start to climb. However, the airplane collided with a drainage culvert located about 25 ft from the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing spar and ribs. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. The METAR located at the accident airport reported that about the time of the accident, the wind direction was from 230° with a velocity of 20 knots and gusting to 25 knots. The pilot was departing from runway 23.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N16CX
- Reported as
- Harry Crosby RV-6
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 23159
- Built
- 2004
- Airframe hours
- 1,809.5
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Harry L. Crosby
- Registered owner
- Harry L. Crosby
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · June 11, 2020 · 25 hours before
- Destination
- LVK · Livermore, CA
- Airport
- C83 · Byron, runway 23, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system
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
- 88
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 21, 2020
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 2,074 total · 1,814 in this make and model · 2,031 as pilot in command · 28 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.99 inHg
- Observed at
- KC83, 12 nm away
- METAR
- METAR KC83 182115Z AUTO 23020G25KT 9SM CLR 28/04 A2999 RMK AO2=
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2021, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.4 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.