Tri-County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Erie, Colorado 80516
Thursday, August 24, 2006 17:15 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that he encountered a gust of wind during the takeoff roll from runway 15. The airplane departed the runway to the right and impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. According to the routine aviation weather report (METAR) the winds were 070 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot estimated the winds to be 080 degrees at 8 knots, gusting to 12 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/24/2006
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1715
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City Erie
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 80516
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 403649N
Event Location Longitude 1050205W
Event Location Airport TRI-COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID EIK
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 5130
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1745 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 220
Weather Observation Facility ID BJC
Elevation of weather observation facility 5670
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.97
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) 20620
NTSB Notification Source FAA-Northwest Mountain Region
NTSB Notification Date Aug 24 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 29 2006 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Denver FAA Flight Standards District Office

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N442E
NTSB Number DEN06CA117
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 Gordon
Aircraft Model Vans RV-6
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 60090
Certified Max Gross Weight 1380
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 181
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name On File
Aircraft Owner Street Address On File
Aircraft Owner City Elbert
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 80106
Operator is an individual? Yes
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? --
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 No
Departure Airport Code EIK
Departure City Erie
Departure State CO
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1715
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code EIK
Destination City Erie
Destination State CO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2006 10:24AM
User who most recently changed record BOWL
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 15
Runway Length 4700
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --