Northwing NAVAJO accident near Daingerfield, Texas, November 19, 2016
On November 19, 2016 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 2001 Northwing NAVAJO, registered N360XL, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Daingerfield, Texas (Greater Morris County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The noncertificated pilot’s unfamiliarity with the aircraft, which resulted in a loss of control during an unintentional takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 19, 2016 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Daingerfield, Texas · Greater Morris County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Northwing NAVAJO, built 2001 · all NAVAJOs on the register
- Registration
- N360XL · no longer on the register · serial 7940
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The noncertificated pilot stated that he was unfamiliar with the accident aircraft, a light sport trike; only intended to do a high-speed taxi; and had no intention to fly. He indicated that, during the taxi test, the airplane "must have experienced a gust of wind," and the airplane lifted off, turned hard to the left, and crashed into the trees alongside the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing. The postaccident examination did not note any mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. The pilot reported that he had received some flight training and had some experience flying ultralights but that the controls in the ultralights were different than the controls in the accident aircraft.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Miscellaneous/other during taxi
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Flight time: 10 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,060 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8F5 Daingerfield TX at 1:00 am
- Destination: 8F5 Daingerfield TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.50 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from kosa, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN17LA042.