Dauenhauer Field (Private) Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Boyd, Texas 76023
Sunday, May 20, 2012 19:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A witness reported observing the airplane on what seemed to be a normal approach toward the 1,800-foot-long grass airstrip before the airplane was no longer visible behind treelines. A pilot-rated passenger stated that the wind was calm during the straight-in approach and that the airplane had not touched down by about midfield, at which time, the pilot initiated a go-around. During the climbout, the pilot retracted the flaps. The airplane subsequently collided with the top of a treeline located perpendicular to the departure end of the runway, rolled left, struck more trees, and then impacted the ground. A postimpact fire ensued. Visual meteorological conditions with light wind prevailed at the time of the accident. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preexisting anomalies that would have contributed to the accident. Estimated weight and balance calculations showed that the airplane was within limits for takeoff and landing. Airplane performance calculations indicated that the airplane should have had positive climb performance during the go-around; however, the pilot retracted the flaps when the airplane was about 900 feet down the runway, which left only 900 feet to clear the 30-foot-high treeline. Therefore, although the airplane had positive climb performance, the delayed go-around and early retraction of the flaps left the airplane in a position with insufficient distance to clear the treeline, which resulted in a collision with the trees. 

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s delayed initiation of a go-around and early retraction of the flaps during the maneuver, which resulted in a collision with trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/20/2012
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Boyd
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 76023
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 330121N
Event Location Longitude 0973812W
Event Location Airport Dauenhauer Field (Private)
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 0000
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport 360
Airport Elevation 906
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1935 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID LUD
Elevation of weather observation facility 1047
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.08
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 3
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33048
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 Sep 8 2014 4:07PM
User who most recently changed record lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N29112
NTSB Number CEN12FA311
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model T210L
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 21059805
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 4
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 21 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3698.7
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Steven Dauenhauer
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1686 CR 4790
Aircraft Owner City Boyd
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76023
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Steven Dauenhauer
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1686 CR 4790
Operator City Boyd
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 76023
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code DTN
Departure City Shreveport
Departure State LA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 0000
Destination City Boyd
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 8 2014 4:08PM
User who most recently changed record lema
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 1800
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --