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GAA16CA395

2016-07-23 · Collinsville, Oklahoma, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport OK94

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in a high density altitude condition, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a tree.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the takeoff rotation, the nose came up and the left wing rose, but as he looked to the right wing it appeared low and "the next thing he knew" the airplane was going about 45 degrees across the runway to the right, headed for a tree. The pilot further reported that he reduced throttle and applied the brakes while turning left to no avail. The airplane subsequently impacted a tree and spun clockwise about 90 degrees sustaining substantial damage to the right wing and aft fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot recommended that due to the density altitude and low powered airplane it may not have been a good condition for departure. The pilot reported that during the takeoff rotation, the nose came up and the left wing rose, but as he looked to the right wing it appeared low and "the next thing he knew" the airplane was going about 45 degrees across the runway to the right, headed for a tree. The pilot further reported that he reduced throttle and applied the brakes while turning left to no avail. The airplane subsequently impacted a tree and spun clockwise about 90 degrees sustaining substantial damage to the right wing and aft fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot recommended that due to the density altitude and low powered airplane it may not have been a good condition for departure. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Contributed to outcome
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Temp/humidity/pressure-High density altitude-Decision related to condition
  • — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2016_GAA16CA395.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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Related research

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