Pilot Debrief

SUTTON WILLIAM J STITS PLAYMATE SA11A near Bridgeport, TX — 2014-07-29

Final reportCEN14LA433
Sign in to save
Date
2014-07-29
Location
Bridgeport, TX, USA
Airport
KXBP
Aircraft
SUTTON WILLIAM J STITS PLAYMATE SA11A
Registration
N76WS
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of airplane control during takeoff after encountering rapidly changing wind conditions.

NTSB narrative

After refueling the airplane, the pilot observed that the wind direction at the airport had changed about 90 degrees from when he had arrived about 30 minutes earlier. The pilot reported that the wind was now 8 to 10 mph and varying from 050 to 090 degrees, so he chose runway 36 for departure. When the airplane was about 10 to 15 ft above the ground, it made a descending left turn. The pilot stayed in the traffic pattern and then landed on the runway. The pilot checked the flight controls, and they appeared to respond correctly. He departed again, and, after becoming airborne, the airplane made another descending left turn. The airplane did not respond to the pilot's control inputs, so he reduced power and landed in the grass near the runway. The airplane slid across a taxiway and impacted a tree and fence at the airport perimeter. Aileron control continuity was established with no abnormalities noted. The airport's automated weather reporting station reported calm wind and lightning in the distance south of the airport about the time of departure. Based on the events, it's likely that, during the takeoff, the airplane encountered rapidly changing wind conditions due to a nearby storm.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff after first descending left turn.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

Related mishaps