Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Eldorado Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Eldorado, Texas 76936
Wednesday, December 28, 2011 11:20 CDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
As the flight neared the destination airport, the pilot obtained information from the nearest weather reporting facility, located about 33 miles away, which indicated that there would be a left crosswind component of about 15 knots with gusts to 20 knots on the landing runway. On final approach, the pilot noted that the windsock appeared to be extended at a 45 degree angle to the runway. He made his final approach with the left wing down and slightly more airspeed than usual to compensate for the crosswind. After both main wheels were on the runway, the pilot felt the left wing lift, even with full left aileron and opposite rudder inputs. He also felt that the airplane's right wheel brake was "spongy." As the wing lifted, the airplane began to ground loop to the left, skidded off the runway and impacted terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings. After the pilot exited the airplane, he noted that the windsock was fully extended perpendicular to the runway. The pilot stated that he was very experienced in crosswind landings and that he should not have relied on a distant weather facility report; rather he should have made a full pattern approach to check the windsock more closely and better assess the local wind before landing. He stated that if he had been aware of how high the crosswind actually was, he would not have landed at this airport.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning and decision-making, which resulted in a loss of control during a crosswind landing.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 12/28/2011 |
| Event Day of the Week | Wednesday |
| Time of Event | 1120 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Daylight Time |
| Event City | Eldorado |
| Event State | TEXAS |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 76936 |
| Event Date Year | 2011 |
| Event Date Month | 12 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 305144N |
| Event Location Longitude | 1003639W |
| Event Location Airport | Eldorado Airport |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | 27R |
| 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 | 2448 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | Pilot |
| Time of the weather observation | 1115 Central Standard Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 255 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | OZA |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 2381 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 33 |
| 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) | 18 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | -- |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 270 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 15 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 20 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | -- |
| 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) | 29573 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA Operations Center |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Feb 24 2012 1:47PM |
| User who most recently changed record | snyg |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N6129T |
| NTSB Number | CEN12CA130 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | Unknown |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | No |
| Damage | Substantial |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | MAULE |
| Aircraft Model | M-7-235 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 4053C |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2500 |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | 2 |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | 2 |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 4 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | Aug 1 2011 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- |
| Airframe Hours | 5104 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | No |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | Unknown |
| Aircraft Owner Name | TAF AERIAL SERVICES LLC |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 1559 FM 673 |
| Aircraft Owner City | BEEVILLE |
| Aircraft Owner State | TX |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 78102-8164 |
| Operator is an individual? | No |
| Operator Name | TAF AERIAL SERVICES LLC |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | 1559 FM 673 |
| Operator City | BEEVILLE |
| Operator State | TX |
| Operator Country | USA |
| Operator Zip code | 78102-8164 |
| 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) | Aerial Observation |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No |
| Departure Airport Code | HDO |
| Departure City | Hondo |
| Departure State | TX |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 800 |
| Departure Time Zone | CST |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | crash at destination city |
| Destination Airport Code | 27R |
| Destination City | Eldorado |
| Destination State | TX |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jan 14 2012 12:21AM |
| User who most recently changed record | lema |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 35 |
| Runway Length | 4300 |
| Runway Width | 60 |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |