Casa Grande Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Casa Grande, Arizona 85222
Thursday, May 6, 1999 15:50 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Prior to departure on runway 5, the pilot checked the windsock and noted a 90-degree crosswind at speeds from 5 to 10 mph. He made the decision to continue with the departure. During the takeoff roll, he became distracted after he heard another airplane radio intentions to land on runway 23 and he looked up to find the traffic. The pilot stated that the airplane weathervaned 45 degrees into the wind, veered off the runway, and nosed over.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the existing crosswind condition and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. The pilot's distraction in looking for the aircraft which announced an intention to land in the opposite direction was a factor in the accident.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/6/1999
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1550
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City CASA GRANDE
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85222
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CASA GRANDE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CGZ
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 1464
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1456 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 157
Weather Observation Facility ID PHX
Elevation of weather observation facility 1110
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 31
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
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) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
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) 1543
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 6 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1719
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 N5287U
NTSB Number LAX99LA171
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 Widner
Aircraft Model RV-3A
Aircraft Series Identifier RV-3A
Aircraft Serial Number 10015
Certified Max Gross Weight 1050
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 May 27 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 68
Airframe Hours 278
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HERMAN G. CARROLL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1350 BEEFEATER DR.
Aircraft Owner City LAKE HAVASU
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 86404
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 CGZ
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1550
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DMN
Destination City DEMING
Destination State NM
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 5
Runway Length 5200
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --