Cessna 120 N2591N

Summary

On 15 July 2006 at about 15:00 local time, a Cessna 120 registered N2591N was involved in an accident near Rockwall, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 July 2006 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Rockwall, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Airpark East (1F7)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Cessna 120

Registration

N2591N

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rockwall → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DFW06CA185

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to compensate for existing wind conditions. A contributing factor was the prevailing crosswind.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The 255-hour non-instrument rated private pilot, who reported to have accumulated 25-hours in the same make and model, reported that the tailwheel-equipped airplane drifted-off the left side of the 2,630-foot long by 30-foot wide asphalt runway during the takeoff roll on Runway 13. The pilot reported that soon after the tail came up during the takeoff roll, the airplane experienced an uncommanded "lurch" to the left, which he was unable to correct with the opposite rudder and aileron. The pilot added that as soon as the airplane entered the grassy area adjacent to the runway, he closed the throttle and held the elevator in the full aft position to keep the tailwheel on the ground. Subsequently, the pilot became aware of two drainage ditches crossing perpendicular to his intended path. The airplane had enough speed to cross the first ditch; however, the main landing gear collided with the second ditch resulting in a nose over. The airplane came to rest in the inverted position. On the recommendation block of his report, the pilot stated that there was a stand of trees on the right side of the runway, which may have caused the wind to push the airplane to the left just as the plane rolled past the tree line. The FAA inspector, who traveled to the accident site, confirmed that the airplane sustained structural damage. The inspector was able to establish flight control continuity and did not find any pre-existing mechanical malfunctions. At the time of the mishap, the winds were reported from 180 degrees at 10 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.