Takeoff & Initial Climb · NTSB CEN14FA077
AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A-1C-200 — Los Alamos, NM
| Date | December 8, 2013 |
| Location | Los Alamos, NM |
| Aircraft | AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A-1C-200 |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Takeoff Other weather encounter |
| Pilot age | 51 |
| Pilot total time | 500 hrs · Building experience |
| Time in type | 100 hrs |
| Fatalities | 2 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-(general)-Pilot - C
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Not attained/maintained - C
What happened
The pilot and passenger were on a cross-country flight and stopped at an en route airport. After waiting for weather to improve, they took off to the west. A witness reported seeing the airplane depart the runway and then enter a steep left turn, before descending and impacting terrain. The airport directory noted that all landings are to the west, and all takeoffs to the east. A commuter pilot reported that the accident pilot asked him if east takeoffs and west landings were mandatory. The commuter pilot responded that he believed it was but that the commuter crew had permission from the airport manager to depart to the west, if needed. The commuter pilot added that if they departed to the west, they would make a turn before the terminal building. The automated weather reporting station, located on the field recorded about 5 minutes after the accident, the wind from 270 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 23 knots. An examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact abnormality with the engine or airframe.