Aero-Ace CE 1 N473CQ

Summary

On 26 June 2017 at about 23:00 local time, a Aero-Ace CE 1 registered N473CQ was involved in an accident near Cottonwood, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 June 2017 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Cottonwood, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Cottonwood (P52)

Coordinates

34.7311, -112.0356

Aircraft

Aero-Ace CE 1

Registration

N473CQ

Category

Airplane

Year built

1983

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cottonwood → Cottonwood

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA370

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusting crosswind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, immediately after takeoff, the airplane drifted hard to the right. He applied left aileron and left rudder to no avail. Subsequently, the right wing and landing gear impacted the ground, and the airplane came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system about 14 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 200° at 15 knots, gusting to 22 knots. The pilot was departing on runway 32. As a recommendation, the pilot reported that a higher takeoff speed would have helped him better control the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.