San Manuel Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Manuel, Arizona 85631
Wednesday, July 31, 2013 12:00 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that, during the takeoff with a tailwind and just before reaching rotation speed, the tailwheel-equipped airplane suddenly veered left and exited the runway surface. Despite the pilot’s corrective inputs, the left wing impacted terrain, and the airplane nosed over in a ravine adjacent to the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s loss of directional control during takeoff with a tailwind, which resulted in a runway excursion.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/31/2013
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City San Manuel
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85631
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 323811N
Event Location Longitude 1103850W
Event Location Airport San Manuel
Event Location Nearest Airport ID E77
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 3272
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1200 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID E77
Elevation of weather observation facility 2704
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
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) 35
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.16
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR K 311858Z AUTO 25009KT 10SM CLR 36/11 A3007
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32879
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regional 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 Jun 18 2014 12:41PM
User who most recently changed record nixa
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N70AC
NTSB Number WPR13LA351
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 STRIBLING
Aircraft Model RV4
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number JS01
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 6 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 300
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Mark Hornsby
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City East Feliciana
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 70730
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Mark Hornsby
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City East Feliciana
Operator State LA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 70730
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code E77
Departure City San Manuel
Departure State AZ
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 8T6
Destination City George West
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 8 2014 7:13PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 11
Runway Length 4207
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --