Westerhout/Gagnier ESCAPADE N29DY

Summary

On 21 May 2009 at about 17:55 local time, a Westerhout/Gagnier ESCAPADE registered N29DY, operated by Daniel York, was involved in an accident near Healdsburg, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 May 2009 at 17:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Healdsburg, California, United States

Nearest airport

Healdsburg Municipal Airport (O31)

Coordinates

38.6304, -122.8891

Aircraft

Westerhout/Gagnier ESCAPADE

Registration

N29DY

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Daniel York

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Healdsburg → Healdsburg

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR09CA256

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional/lateral control during the initial climb.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said he had completed an uneventful flight earlier in the day. On the accident flight, he performed an engine run-up, which included a magneto check with no mechanical anomalies encountered. He taxied to the active runway (runway 13), and noted the winds were light about 5 knots from the south. The takeoff roll was normal, and they lifted off at 50 mph. After rotation, the airplane started a left bank for no apparent reason. The pilot did not pull back on the control stick; however, he attempted to align the airplane with the runway. He noted that the airplane did not respond to his roll input and continued in the left bank. The pilot also stated that the airplane had started a slight climb just prior to impacting the vineyard. After the initial contact with the vineyard, the airplane became airborne again and then dropped back into the vineyard. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane and he believes that the winds may have shifted to more of a south wind at the time of the loss of control event. Reported winds at the time were from 140 degrees at 5 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.