Zelienople Municiple Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Zelienople, Pennsylvania 16063
Sunday, August 1, 2010 9:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, during the takeoff ground roll the airplane encountered a sudden gust of wind and turned left. The pilot corrected with right rudder, but the airplane departed the runway and bounced several times before the right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage and found no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The pilot further reported that wind at the airport was shifting.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's loss of directional control while taking off with a gusting wind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/1/2010
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 930
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Zelienople
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 16063
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 404807N
Event Location Longitude 0800939W
Event Location Airport Zelienople Municiple Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PJC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 900
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 935 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 287
Weather Observation Facility ID KBTP
Elevation of weather observation facility 1248
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 8500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
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) 29.98
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KBTP 011335Z AUTO 07008KT 10SM OVC085 21/17
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) 27929
NTSB Notification Source FAA Eastern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 14 2010 8:42PM
User who most recently changed record coxp
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4113M
NTSB Number ERA10CA397
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 LUSCOMBE
Aircraft Model 8C
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1412
Certified Max Gross Weight 1310
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 Dec 4 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 2993
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name GEYER PATRICK H
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City METAMORA
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 48455
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name GEYER PATRICK H
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City METAMORA
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 48455
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 PJC
Departure City Zelienople
Departure State PA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 930
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code D95
Destination City Lapeer
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 1 2010 3:59PM
User who most recently changed record wilr
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 4933
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --