Sonora Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sonora, Texas 76950
Wednesday, July 9, 1997 15:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

In a written statement, the pilot stated that the UNICOM reported the winds '14 gusting to 20, generally down the runway.' During the landing roll, the airplane was 'struck by a strong gust of wind which caused the airplane to float and turn 30 to 45 degrees to the left.' Subsequently, the airplane exited the left side of the runway. The pilot then applied power to initiate a climb and avoid a 4-foot drainage ditch running parallel to the runway. The airplane then contacted brush and a fence on the opposite side of the ditch.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain control during landing roll. A factor was gusty wind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/9/1997
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City SONORA
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76950
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SONORA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID E29
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 2137
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1456 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID SJT
Elevation of weather observation facility 1916
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 49
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1274
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 9 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1750
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:25PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2583F
NTSB Number FTW97LA260
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 Bellanca
Aircraft Model 7ECA
Aircraft Series Identifier 7ECA
Aircraft Serial Number 214
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
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 Aug 1 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 4
Airframe Hours 2280
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT PRIEST
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2032 SHANTILLY
Aircraft Owner City SIERRA VISTA
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85635
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 N/A
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 No
Departure Airport Code JCT
Departure City JUNCTION
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1435
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code E29
Destination City
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 4037
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --