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Atlas / NTSB / CEN15CA213

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event CEN15CA213

2014-11-23 Mesquite, Texas, United States Airport · HQZ None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N580

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

BELLANCA 8KCAB

Year of manufacture

1972 · 42 years old at event

Engine

LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES (150 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19720922

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A775E7

Registrant of record

AEROBLAYZE AVIATION LLC

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's loss of directional control while landing in gusting crosswind conditions, which exceeded the airplane's maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity.

Factual narrative

During the landing on runway 17 a gust of wind pushed the tailwheel equipped airplane to the left. The pilot attempted to correct back to the runway centerline; the airplane exited the right side of the runway and spun 180 degrees. The left wing impacted the ground and sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and stated that he lost control during landing. Around the time of the landing, the automated weather station reported the wind from 260 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 24 knots. A review of the airplane's flight manual revealed the maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity was 17 knots. During the landing on runway 17 a gust of wind pushed the tailwheel equipped airplane to the left. The pilot attempted to correct back to the runway centerline; the airplane exited the right side of the runway and spun 180 degrees. The left wing impacted the ground and sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane and stated that he lost control during landing.  Around the time of the landing, the automated weather station reported the wind from 260 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 24 knots. A review of the airplane's flight manual revealed the maximum demonstrated crosswind velocity was 17 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Aircraft capability-Maximum crosswind component-Capability exceeded - C
  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Pilot - C
  • Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Response/compensation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2014_CEN15CA213.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.