Wittman D R/Wittman D M RV 6 N833DW

Summary

On 11 May 2018 at about 13:27 local time, a Wittman D R/Wittman D M RV 6 registered N833DW was involved in an accident near Borger, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 May 2018 at 13:27

Classification

Accident

Location

Borger, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Hutchinson County Airport (BGD)

Coordinates

35.7008, -101.3936

Aircraft

Wittman D R/Wittman D M RV 6

Registration

N833DW

Category

Airplane

Year built

2003

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Williams → Borger

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN18LA172

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during landing and during the subsequent aborted landing attempt in crosswind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot stated that, during approach to the airport, the weather observation system reported variable winds of 4 to 6 knots, which was less than forecast. While on short final approach for landing to runway 21, the pilot experienced "strong updrafts from unusual landforms," and when the airplane landed about halfway down the runway, he experienced "strong gusts causing swerving." The airplane was departing the side of the runway when the pilot chose to abort the landing by applying full engine power. The airplane was unable to outclimb the rising terrain off the side of the runway and subsequently impacted the ground and a fence. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded weather information showed winds consistently from 220° at 23 to 32 knots, which would have resulted in a crosswind component of between 2 and 6 knots. The strong updrafts the pilot experienced would have been consistent with mechanical turbulence, which could have been confirmed by wind indications from the airport windsock(s).

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.