Trinity Center Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Trinity Center, California 96091
Wednesday, May 5, 1993 14:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT TOLD A FAA SAFETY INSPECTOR THAT HE LIFTED OFF THE GROUND TOO SOON, CAUGHT A GUST OF WIND, DRIFTED OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND HIT SOME BRUSH WHILE STILL AIRBORNE. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THE WINDS AT 4-8 KTS. THE PILOT'S WIFE SAID THAT THERE WAS A GUST OF WIND, AND SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, HER HUSBAND COULD NOT CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT TOLD THE FAA THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION, JUST HIS TECHNIQUE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT FAILURE TO OBTAIN ENOUGH AIRSPEED FOR TAKEOFF WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL, AND HIS FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSSWIND CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/5/1993
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City TRINITY CENTER
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 96091
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TRINITY CENTER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID O86
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 2390
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1350 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 310
Weather Observation Facility ID RDD
Elevation of weather observation facility 502
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 38
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Overcast
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 60
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 130
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 5 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1520
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 51125
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:19PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N15TP
NTSB Number LAX93LA201
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 T.R. BRISTOL
Aircraft Model RV-6
Aircraft Series Identifier RV-6
Aircraft Serial Number 20141
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 28 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 62
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THOMAS REED BRISTOL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 165 HILLVIEW DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City GRANTS PASS
Aircraft Owner State OR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 97527
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name THOMAS REED BRISTOL
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 165 HILLVIEW DRIVE
Operator City GRANTS PASS
Operator State OR
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 97527
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 3S8
Destination City GRANTS PASS
Destination State OR
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 14
Runway Length 3200
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --