Outlaw Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clarksville, Tennessee 37042
Thursday, November 12, 2009 10:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane stated that he elected to depart from runway 17 with a wind from 050 degrees at 7 knots with gusts to 9 knots, although runway 05 was available. During the takeoff roll he "lost directional control." The airplane departed the runway into a grassy area on the left side of the runway and then ground-looped, substantially damaging the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies. The weather reporting facility at the accident airport reported that, approximately 38 minutes before the accident and 22 minutes after the accident, the wind was from the east-northeast at 6 to 7 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident was his decision to take off with a left quartering tailwind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/12/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Clarksville
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37042
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 363719N
Event Location Longitude 0872453W
Event Location Airport Outlaw Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CKV
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 1052 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID CKV
Elevation of weather observation facility 550
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) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.12
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) 26619
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern C-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 12 2010 2:25PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N315AC
NTSB Number ERA10CA061
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 AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT
Aircraft Model 8GCBC
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 421-2000
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 2 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 460
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name TMS AVIATION LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 635 FROSTY MORN DR
Aircraft Owner City CLARKSVILLE
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37040-6303
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name TMS AVIATION LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 635 FROSTY MORN DR
Operator City CLARKSVILLE
Operator State TN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 37040-6303
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 CKV
Departure City Clarksville
Departure State TN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code CKV
Destination City Clarksville
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 12 2010 2:25PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 6000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --