New Braunfels Municipal Airpor Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

New Braunfels, Texas 78130
Wednesday, August 18, 2004 18:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The 11-hour student pilot lost directional control of the airplane while attempting to take off from runway 13 (a 5,364-foot long and 100-foot wide asphalt runway). The airplane veered off the left side of the runway and the pilot was unable to make the proper corrections. Subsequently, the airplane exited the left side of the runway, and collided with a taxiway sign. The winds at the time of the accident were reported from 140 degrees at 16 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. A contributing factor was the high wind condition.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/18/2004
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1815
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City New Braunfels
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78130
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 294216N
Event Location Longitude 0980232W
Event Location Airport New Braunfels Municipal Airpor
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BAZ
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 651
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1751 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID BAZ
Elevation of weather observation facility 651
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.92
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16721
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Aug 16 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2004 11:17AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office San Antonio, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N739AM
NTSB Number FTW04LA215
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17270389
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Southern Wings Flight Training Center
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1568 Entrance Drive
Aircraft Owner City New Braunfels
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78130
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name MICHAEL BARTELS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 770 N IH 35 APT 732
Operator City NEW BRAUNFELS
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 78130
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code BAZ
Departure City New Braunfels
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1815
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record Sep 29 2004 1:22PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 13
Runway Length 5364
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --