Event WPR12LA211

Factual narrative

On May 13, 2012, about 1430 mountain standard time, a Beech F33A, N5521A, sustained substantial damage during takeoff at the Mobile Airport (1AZ0), Mobile, Arizona. The airplane was registered to Airline Training Center Arizona, Inc, and operated as an instructional flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The student pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed. The local flight originated from the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport (GYR), Goodyear, Arizona, about 1309. The student pilot reported that he was practicing a series of full stop landings and takeoffs at 1AZ0. The first three landings and takeoffs were uneventful and he noted that the wind was light, requiring almost no crosswind correction, however, he observed several "dust devils" near the airport and throughout the valley. The student pilot stated that as he taxied onto runway 9, a 4,500-foot long, 75-foot wide asphalt runway, the windsock indicated northerly wind from seven to eight knots and that the dust devil southeast of the airport could not be seen anymore. The student pilot applied takeoff power and the airplane accelerated along the centerline of the runway. As the airspeed accelerated through about 50 to 55 knots, the airplane suddenly yawed to the left and despite the student pilot's control inputs, continued to the left and exited the runway. Subsequently, the airplane struck several bushes to the left of the runway. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the inboard portion of the right wing was crushed aft. Additional damage was observed on the right horizontal stabilizer. The FAA inspector reported that flight control continuity was established throughout the airplane's primary flight control system. Examination of the nose wheel landing gear and steering linkages revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from a weather station located GYR, located about 19 miles north of the accident site, revealed at 1447 conditions were wind from 250 degrees at 10 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 15,000 feet, temperature 39-degrees Celsius, dew point -1 degree Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.87 inches of Mercury. The student pilot stated that he applied takeoff power, and the airplane accelerated along the centerline of the runway. As the airplane accelerated through about 50 to 55 knots, it suddenly yawed to the left. Despite the student pilot's control inputs, the airplane continued to the left and exited the runway. Examination of the airplane's flight control system and nose wheel steering system revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. 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 Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C