Aviat A-1B N132AA

Summary

On 21 March 2013 at about 21:08 local time, a Aviat A-1B registered N132AA, operated by howard L. Patton, was involved in an accident near Dumas, 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

21 March 2013 at 21:08

Classification

Accident

Location

Dumas, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Dumas Moore County (KDUX)

Coordinates

35.8569, -102.0128

Aircraft

Aviat A-1B

Registration

N132AA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

howard L. Patton

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Dumas → Sunray

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13CA203

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while taking off in gusty crosswind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to takeoff instead of waiting to ensure that the wind velocity had decreased.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated he ended a flying lesson with a student early because the wind speed was increasing and it was getting too turbulent. He intended to fly his airplane back to his home airport, but waited 5 to 10 minutes until the wind calmed down to 10 to 12 knots. He stated that the approach end of the runway was somewhat sheltered by buildings and hangars. During the takeoff roll, a “strong” gust of wind resulted in the airplane becoming airborne prematurely, with the right wing raised 45 to 50 degrees. The pilot was able to level the wings before the airplane settled back to the runway; however, the airplane traveled about 100 feet off the side of the runway where it contacted a drainage ditch and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing, vertical stabilizer and rudder, and fuselage. The takeoff was being made on runway 19. The local wind reported 13 minutes before the accident was from 230 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 20 knots. The wind reported 7 minutes after the accident was from 280 degrees at 23 knots gusting to 28 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.