Parks RV-7 accident near Fort Worth, Texas, April 16, 2006
On April 16, 2006 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Parks RV-7, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N620CF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Worth, Texas (Hicks Airfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. A contributing factor was the prevailing crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 2006 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Worth, Texas · Hicks Airfield
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Parks RV-7, amateur-built
- Registration
- N620CF · registry record · serial 70095
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 6,384-hour ATP rated pilot, with 69-hours in make/model, lost directional control of the tailwheel-equipped single-engine airplane during the takeoff roll from a 3,740 foot long by 60 foot wide asphalt runway. The pilot reported that the airplane's controls responded correctly as he taxied his homebuilt airplane from his hangar to runway 14 prior to his departure. Prior to taking the active runway, the pilot reported that he executed a 360-degree clockwise turn to visually check for approaching aircraft followed by a left turn onto the active runway. During the takeoff roll, the airplane began to swerve to the left side of the runway. The pilot further reported that he attempted to arrest the swerve by applying right rudder; however, the airplane did not respond. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and impacted a berm and a nearby railroad track. An FAA inspector reported that an examination of the airplane's flight controls and tailwheel assembly did not reveal any pre-accident anomalies. The pilot was attempting to depart from Runway 14. The weather observation facility located 6 nautical miles northeast from the accident site reported the winds from 220 degrees at 6 knots.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,384 hours in all; 69 in this make and model; 164 in the last 90 days; 97 in the last 30 days; 5,279 as pilot in command; 2,704 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 59 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 1, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T67 Fort Worth TX at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,740 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.67 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from AFW, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.