Shields Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lillian, Alabama 36549
Monday, March 22, 2010 16:51 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The experimental, amateur-built airplane was equipped with a 48-horsepower engine. The pilot reported that he obtained weather information via television; however, he did not receive a weather briefing from a flight service station prior to the local flight. The pilot attempted to depart on runway 27; a 2,175-foot-long, 80-foot-wide, turf runway. During the takeoff roll, at a speed of approximately 50 mph, the wind pushed the airplane to the right and the pilot attempted to abort the takeoff. The wind then caused an increase in airspeed and the airplane became airborne. The airplane banked right and the pilot was unable to correct with left aileron and left rudder control input. The airplane subsequently impacted bushes and the fuselage separated. The recorded wind at a nearby airport, about the time of the accident, was from 280 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 33 knots. The peak wind was recorded from 230 degrees at 33 knots. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s inadequate weather evaluation and failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusty wind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/22/2010
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1651
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Lillian
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36549
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 302630N
Event Location Longitude 0872749W
Event Location Airport Shields Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AL55
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 95
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID PNS
Elevation of weather observation facility 121
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 13
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
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) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 33
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.91
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26919
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern Region
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 22 2010 3:04PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6587V
NTSB Number ERA10CA185
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 Shaw
Aircraft Model FISHER FP 404
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 71427
Certified Max Gross Weight 540
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 53
Airframe Hours 153
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TERRY TIRRELL
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City OCEAN SPRINGS
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 39564-7008
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name TERRY TIRRELL
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City OCEAN SPRINGS
Operator State MS
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 39564-7008
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 AL55
Departure City Lillian
Departure State AL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1651
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code AL55
Destination City Lillian
Destination State AL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 22 2010 3:04PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 2175
Runway Width 80
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --