Cincinnati/No. Kentucky Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Covington, Kentucky 41011
Tuesady, May 25, 1999 13:27 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot received progressive taxi instructions to runway 18R, and was told to hold short, for landing and departing traffic. The airplane was then cleared for departure on runway 18R; however, the pilot made a right turn and departed runway 36L. During takeoff, the airplane 'weather vaned' into the wind and the pilot was unable correct for the crosswind by using rudder control. The pilot stated the airplane would not pick up speed for flight. The airplane then drifted off the left side of the runway, and 'dropped' to the ground. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions of the airframe or engine. A weather observation taken at the airport, at 1354, reported the winds were from 260 degrees, at 13 knots, with 24 knot gusts.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff/initial climb. A factor in the accident was the crosswind condition.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/25/1999
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1327
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City COVINGTON
Event State KENTUCKY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 41011
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 CINCINNATI/NO. KENTUCKY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CVG
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 897
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1354 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CVG
Elevation of weather observation facility 897
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 7000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 24
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 647
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 25 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1420
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 20 2001 4:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N79M
NTSB Number NYC99LA119
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Howard Aircraft Corp.
Aircraft Model DGA-15P
Aircraft Series Identifier DGA-15P
Aircraft Serial Number 531
Certified Max Gross Weight 3890
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 16 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 95
Airframe Hours 4036
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM F. FIELDS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 108 HIGHLAND DR.
Aircraft Owner City HAZARD
Aircraft Owner State KY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 41701
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 CVG
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1327
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code K20
Destination City HAZARD
Destination State KY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 20 2001 4:07AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36L
Runway Length 11000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --