Aviat A-1B N47EA

Summary

On 19 February 2008 at about 22:00 local time, a Aviat A-1B registered N47EA, operated by Brad Mercer, was involved in an accident near Winder, Georgia, 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

19 February 2008 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Winder, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Winder-Barrow Airport (WDR)

Coordinates

33.9899, -83.7203

Aircraft

Aviat A-1B

Registration

N47EA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Brad Mercer

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Winder → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

NYC08CA108

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident was the gusty crosswind condition.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot of an Avitat A-1B, while departing from runway 23, "a gust of wind caused a ground loop type maneuver." He applied additional engine power in an attempt to straighten out the airplane, but "the wind overpowered me and I rolled off into the woods." He also stated that the landing gear was bent due to the inadvertent side load; causing the wing and propeller to strike the ground. The tail section and fuselage were bent as the airplane preceded tail first into the trees. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions of the airplane prior to the accident. The reported wind at the airport, about the time of the accident, was from 290 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 24 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.