 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
PA-18 private pilot suffers a runway excursion during a downwind takeoff attempt. Quartering tailwind blows aircraft off runway prior to attaining flying speed. Successfully continues takeoff from grass area.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 366970 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199704 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : co15 |
| State Reference | CO |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | PA-18/19 Super Cub |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : takeoff |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | Sail Plane |
| Operating Under FAR Part | other : unknown |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 12 flight time total : 130 flight time type : 27 |
| ASRS Report | 366970 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other anomaly other other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : regained aircraft control other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Air Traffic Incident | Pilot Deviation other |
Narrative:
While attempting takeoff in a high density altitude situation, aircraft left the runway before reaching takeoff speed due to a sudden left quartering rear crosswind. There were no obstacles on the new takeoff heading so I proceeded to attempt the takeoff. This was accomplished with no damage to the aircraft, persons on board, or people/structures on ground. Contributing factors on the choice of runway were continuing glider tow operations in the downwind direction, and the variable winds encountered. I made an error in judgement by not choosing the other direction for takeoff but was concerned about the gliders that were positioned at the end of the runway. I feel that I learned a lesson from this event with no cost in damage or injuries. I will not allow outside factors to influence my judgement in making decisions, i.e., no more downwind takeoffs if an upwind runway is available.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PA-18 PVT PLT SUFFERS A RWY EXCURSION DURING A DOWNWIND TKOF ATTEMPT. QUARTERING TAILWIND BLOWS ACFT OFF RWY PRIOR TO ATTAINING FLYING SPD. SUCCESSFULLY CONTINUES TKOF FROM GRASS AREA.
Narrative: WHILE ATTEMPTING TKOF IN A HIGH DENSITY ALT SIT, ACFT LEFT THE RWY BEFORE REACHING TKOF SPD DUE TO A SUDDEN L QUARTERING REAR XWIND. THERE WERE NO OBSTACLES ON THE NEW TKOF HDG SO I PROCEEDED TO ATTEMPT THE TKOF. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT, PERSONS ON BOARD, OR PEOPLE/STRUCTURES ON GND. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS ON THE CHOICE OF RWY WERE CONTINUING GLIDER TOW OPS IN THE DOWNWIND DIRECTION, AND THE VARIABLE WINDS ENCOUNTERED. I MADE AN ERROR IN JUDGEMENT BY NOT CHOOSING THE OTHER DIRECTION FOR TKOF BUT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE GLIDERS THAT WERE POSITIONED AT THE END OF THE RWY. I FEEL THAT I LEARNED A LESSON FROM THIS EVENT WITH NO COST IN DAMAGE OR INJURIES. I WILL NOT ALLOW OUTSIDE FACTORS TO INFLUENCE MY JUDGEMENT IN MAKING DECISIONS, I.E., NO MORE DOWNWIND TKOFS IF AN UPWIND RWY IS AVAILABLE.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.