Hearne Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hearne, Texas 77859
Friday, July 20, 1990 17:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, HE TURNED DOWNWIND TO MAKE A LOW PASS IN FRONT OF THE CROWD AND THAT DURING THE PASS HE GOT 'BEHIND THE POWER CURVE' AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND. HE FURTHER STATED THAT EVEN WITH FULL POWER APPLIED HE COULD NOT KEEP THE AIRCRAFT FROM SINKING AND THAT THERE WAS 'MODERATE TO SEVERE' TURBUELENCE IN THE AREA.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR THE TAIL WIND CONDIITONS DURING A LOW PASS WHICH EXCEEDED THE PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR WAS THE TAIL WIND CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/20/1990
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City HEARNE
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 77859
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HEARNE MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID T72
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 287
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
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 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 25
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2163
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 21 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44577
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:09PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N70136
NTSB Number FTW90DRA06
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 HUFFAHER
Aircraft Model BENSON
Aircraft Series Identifier BENSON
Aircraft Serial Number 1
Certified Max Gross Weight 562
Aircraft Category Gyrocraft
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 59
ELT Installed No
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 HUFFAKER, RICHARD E.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1317 TULANE ST.
Operator City LAKE CHARLES
Operator State LA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 70605
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 T72
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1555
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code T72
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --