Northwest Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Roanoke, Texas 76262
Monday, October 2, 1995 12:25 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot obtained two weather briefings for the cross country flight. The second briefing was obtained approximately 4 hours prior to departure. The briefings included a convective sigmet and a severe thunderstorm watch. Lines of thunderstorms (tops to 45,000) associated with a cold front were moving into the area. At the time of the second briefing the winds in the area were from the south at 8 to 12 knots. The airplane departed runway 17. The pilot stated that 'during the takeoff ground roll, at approximately the same time that the tailwheel lifted from the runway' the windsock extended from 'limp to standing straight out due to a very strong gust.' The main wheels had not lifted off the runway, when the wind 'hit,' and 'picked the airplane up like a helicopter or a kite.' The airplane crashed after lift-off. Peak surface wind shifts from southwest through northeast near the time of departure reached 70 degrees with gusts to 33 knots. Witnesses reported winds at the departure airport shifted from the south to the north with gusts to 35 knots. Pilot reports included moderate to severe turbulence below 8,000 MSL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate weather evaluation and encounter with a sudden windshift and tailwind. The wind gusts and turbulence were factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/2/1995
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1225
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City ROANOKE
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76262
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport NORTHWEST REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 52F
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 643
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1232 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID AFW
Elevation of weather observation facility 722
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3300
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 25
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 35
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1675
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 2 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:39PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N85636
NTSB Number FTW96FA004
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 AERONCA
Aircraft Model 7AC
Aircraft Series Identifier 7AC
Aircraft Serial Number 7AC4380
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 8 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 83
Airframe Hours 6975
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GRANT D. SMITH
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 2
Aircraft Owner City HENNING
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 56551
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 52F
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1225
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SWI
Destination City SHERMAN
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 3500
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --