Falcon Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mesa, Arizona 85215
Sunday, March 14, 1999 13:38 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot had taken off from the airport to remain in the pattern for touch-and-go's on runway 22R. The pilot had already completed two touch-and-go landings, and was on the third takeoff. He said a gust of wind caused the aircraft to become airborne as he lifted the tail. The aircraft then went into a steep right bank and turned right at approximately 10 feet agl. The airplane drifted off the runway and the right wingtip contacted the ground, which caused the airplane to nose down and cartwheel. The pilot told investigators that he was holding full left aileron from the moment he noticed the left wing liftoff the ground, with no effect. The FAA examined the airplane and said it appeared to be rigged properly. The winds reported at the airport at the time of the accident were from 190 degrees at 6 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the existing crosswind condition and to maintain lateral control of the aircraft.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/14/1999
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1338
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City MESA
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85215
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FALCON FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FFZ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1394
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1338 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 40
Weather Observation Facility ID FFZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 1394
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1246
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 14 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 10:04AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N199AG
NTSB Number LAX99LA119
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Gallob
Aircraft Model RANS S4
Aircraft Series Identifier RANS S4
Aircraft Serial Number 93199
Certified Max Gross Weight 587
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 17 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 43
Airframe Hours 76
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ARTHUR J. GALLOB
Aircraft Owner Street Address 12140 N. FINCH DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City FOUNTAIN HILLS
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85268
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code FFZ
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1410
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22R
Runway Length 3801
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --