Taos Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Taos, New Mexico 87529
Thursday, July 6, 2000 14:10 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot receiving instruction initiated the takeoff on runway 22. At approximately 40 mph, she raised the tail off the ground in preparation for liftoff. The airplane veered to the left, and the flight instructor took control and aborted the takeoff. The airplane struck a runway light before coming to a stop on the left side of the runway. The flight instructor said that as power was increased for takeoff, the right throttle was advanced slightly ahead of the left throttle, and this, in combination with the gusty crosswind, caused the airplane to veer left off the runway. The wind was from 180 degrees at 17 knots (19 mph), with gusts to 24 knots (28 mph). This would present a 40 degree left quartering headwind. The airplane was not equipped with Geisse safety gear. According to the Crosswind Component Chart contained in the Beech G18S 'Flight Handbook,' the maximum safe crosswind component was not exceeded.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Failure of the pilot receiving instruction to maintain directional control. Factors were a gusty crosswind, inadequate supervision by the flight instructor, and the runway light.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/6/2000
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1410
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City TAOS
Event State NEW MEXICO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 87529
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TAOS MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SKX
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 7091
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1415 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID SKX
Elevation of weather observation facility 7091
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 17
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 24
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 9614
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) 13945
NTSB Notification Source FAA ABQ FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Jul 7 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1510
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 30 2003 9:55AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1800L
NTSB Number DEN00LA123
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 Beech
Aircraft Model G18S
Aircraft Series Identifier G18S
Aircraft Serial Number BA-548
Certified Max Gross Weight 9700
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 9
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 12 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 7540
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILD BLUE YONDER, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 389 DJP MEMORIAL BLVD.
Aircraft Owner City GOLDSBY
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 73093
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code SKX
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1410
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OUN
Destination City NORMAN
Destination State OK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 5798
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --