Winder-Barrow Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Winder, Georgia 30680
Tuesady, February 19, 2008 17:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot of an Avitat A-1B, while departing from runway 23, "a gust of wind caused a ground loop type maneuver." He applied additional engine power in an attempt to straighten out the airplane, but "the wind overpowered me and I rolled off into the woods." He also stated that the landing gear was bent due to the inadvertent side load; causing the wing and propeller to strike the ground. The tail section and fuselage were bent as the airplane preceded tail first into the trees. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions of the airplane prior to the accident. The reported wind at the airport, about the time of the accident, was from 290 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 24 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/19/2008
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Winder
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30680
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 385835N
Event Location Longitude 0834001W
Event Location Airport Winder-Barrow Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID WDR
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1701 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID KWDR
Elevation of weather observation facility 934
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Dusk
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) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 24
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.14
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) 23468
NTSB Notification Source FAA Atlanta Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 30 2008 1:28PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Atlanta FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N47EA
NTSB Number NYC08CA108
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 Aviat
Aircraft Model A-1B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 2359
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
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 --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Brad Mercer
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Grayson
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Brad Mercer
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Grayson
Operator State GA
Operator Country USA
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code KWDR
Departure City Winder
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EST
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? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 11 2008 4:16PM
User who most recently changed record grer
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 23
Runway Length 3610
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --