Williams Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Williams, Arizona 86046
Monday, September 23, 1991 16:30 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT PRIOR TO TAKING OFF HE HAD OBSERVED THAT THE WIND SOCK WAS 'LIMP'. THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM RUNWAY 18 AND BEGAN CLIMBING. AT AN ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF 10 TO 20 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, THE PILOT SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD ENCOUNTERED A WIND GUST FROM 090 DEGREES AT 35 KNOTS. THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY, CONTACTED THE GROUND, IMPACTED A DITCH AND COLLIDED WITH BOULDERS. WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT REPORTED THAT, AT THE TIME OF THE MISHAP, A LIGHT RAIN WAS FALLING, A THUNDERSTORM WAS NEARBY, AND GUSTY WINDS HAD SUDDENLY DEVELOPED IN THE AREA.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S ENCOUNTER WITH A STRONG AND GUSTY CROSS-WIND WHICH SUDDENLY DEVELOPED IN THE AREA AND HIS SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND INABILITY TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE EXISTING WIND CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/23/1991
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City WILLIAMS
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 86046
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WILLIAMS MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID P32
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 6680
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 35
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2144
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45777
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:44AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2903V
NTSB Number LAX91LA406
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CALLAIR
Aircraft Model A-3
Aircraft Series Identifier A-3
Aircraft Serial Number 119
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MUIR M. THOMPSON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 20660 W. PINE CYN RD
Operator City LAKE HUGHES
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92243
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 1630
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GCN
Destination City GRAND CANYON
Destination State AZ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 6000
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --