Hicks Airfield Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fort Worth, Texas 76052
Saturday, March 17, 2012 15:50 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he landed the tailwheel-equipped airplane on the centerline of runway 14. He maintained the airplane on the centerline during the landing roll until a gust of wind caused the airplane to veer to the right. The pilot applied full left rudder and full left brake, but the airplane continued to veer off the right side of the runway. The left gear collapsed when it struck the grass on the side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and the left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that the wind was 170 degrees at 16 knots with gusts up to 25 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot did not maintain directional control of the airplane while landing in gusty wind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/17/2012
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1550
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Fort Worth
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76052
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 325552N
Event Location Longitude 0972442W
Event Location Airport Hicks Airfield
Event Location Nearest Airport ID T67
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 1753 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID AFW
Elevation of weather observation facility 722
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 25
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29731
NTSB Notification Source FAA-FTW-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 27 2012 9:45AM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N185GS
NTSB Number CEN12CA190
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model A185F
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18503646
Certified Max Gross Weight 3350
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 1 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1565
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SMITH WILLIAM G SR
Aircraft Owner Street Address On File
Aircraft Owner City MONTGOMERY
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77356-8606
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name SMITH WILLIAM G SR
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address On File
Operator City MONTGOMERY
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 77356-8606
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 No
Departure Airport Code PRX
Departure City Paris
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1715
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code T67
Destination City Fort Worth
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 20 2012 4:15PM
User who most recently changed record silj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --