Shaw FISHER FP 404 N6587V

Summary

On 22 March 2010 at about 21:51 local time, a Shaw FISHER FP 404 registered N6587V, operated by Terry Tirrell, was involved in an accident near Lillian, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 March 2010 at 21:51

Classification

Accident

Location

Lillian, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Shields Airport (AL55)

Coordinates

30.4417, -87.4636

Aircraft

Shaw FISHER FP 404

Registration

N6587V

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Terry Tirrell

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lillian → Lillian

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10CA185

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s inadequate weather evaluation and failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusty wind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The experimental, amateur-built airplane was equipped with a 48-horsepower engine. The pilot reported that he obtained weather information via television; however, he did not receive a weather briefing from a flight service station prior to the local flight. The pilot attempted to depart on runway 27; a 2,175-foot-long, 80-foot-wide, turf runway. During the takeoff roll, at a speed of approximately 50 mph, the wind pushed the airplane to the right and the pilot attempted to abort the takeoff. The wind then caused an increase in airspeed and the airplane became airborne. The airplane banked right and the pilot was unable to correct with left aileron and left rudder control input. The airplane subsequently impacted bushes and the fuselage separated. The recorded wind at a nearby airport, about the time of the accident, was from 280 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 33 knots. The peak wind was recorded from 230 degrees at 33 knots. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.