Fagan BearHawk
Hadley, NV — May 12, 2009
Event Information
| Date | May 12, 2009 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | WPR09CA240 |
| Event ID | 20090513X04744 |
| Location | Hadley, NV |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 38.69417, -117.14694 |
| Airport | Round Mountain |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | Fagan |
| Model | BearHawk |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting crosswinds during takeoff.
Full Narrative
In a written statement, the pilot reported that prior to departure in his tailwheel-equipped airplane, he observed the windsock. It was indicating strong winds perpendicular to the runway and variable gusts. He stated that he waited until he saw a favorable (headwind) gust and then applied takeoff power. During the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered a strong gust of wind from the right, which lifted the right wing and the left wing struck the runway. The airplane pivoted to the left, veered off the runway surface, and impacted a dirt berm. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine. The nearest weather reporting station, located 38 nautical miles south of the accident airport, reported winds at the time of the accident were at 3.3 miles per hour (mph) gusting to 14.3 mph.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.