Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Destin, Florida 32542
Saturday, March 5, 2005 14:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the takeoff roll the airplane veered off the runway, and the nose gear collapsed. The pilot stated that the winds were from the east at about 11 knots gusting to 19 knots prior to the takeoff from runway 32. About 700 feet in the takeoff roll, while keeping the airplane straight with right rudder and right aileron due to the crosswind, at an indicated airspeed of 70 knots and during rotation the airplane swerved to the left. He could not hold the airplane straight. He and the passenger felt a sensation that the tail of the airplane was being pushed forward and to the right making the nose move to the left. He noted the airplane was departing the runway and "cut power" followed by the airplane's sudden stop in the sand. An airframe and powerplant mechanic examined the aircraft after the accident. The flight controls, steering rods, springs, and cables were found to be intact, and continuity was established. The nosewheel and axle had no anomalies. The Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) reported winds during the time of the accident from 240 at 12 knots gusting to 19 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind during a crosswind takeoff resulting in a loss of directional control and subsequent collision with terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/5/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Destin
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32542
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 302400N
Event Location Longitude 0862817W
Event Location Airport Destin-Fort Walton Beach
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DTS
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 23
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID DTS
Elevation of weather observation facility 23
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 17
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19577
NTSB Notification Source FAA Atlanta Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date Mar 5 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1708
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 25 2006 11:00AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Alabama FSDO, SO09

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N588ET
NTSB Number MIA05LA070
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 Piper
Aircraft Model PA-32-301T
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 32-8024044
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Oct 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 29
Airframe Hours 3166
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MS RiskServices Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO Box 14067
Aircraft Owner City Jackson
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 392364067
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name David White
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1515 Fontaine Dr.
Operator City Jackson
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 39211
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code DTS
Departure City Destin
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1415
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HKS
Destination City JACKSON
Destination State MS
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Jan 31 2006 10:12AM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 4999
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --