Amateur-built Evans VP-1 accident near Corpus Christi, Texas, May 18, 2006
On May 18, 2006 at about 5:15 pm local time, a amateur-built Evans VP-1, registered N72260, was substantially damaged in an accident near Corpus Christi, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane. A contributing factor was the dust devil/whirlwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 2006 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Corpus Christi, Texas
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Evans VP-1
- Registration
- N72260 · no longer on the register · serial TM003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 206-hour private pilot reported that he had just taken off from runway 17 at a private airstrip when "at approximately 100 feet above ground level (AGL), a gust of wind from the left blew the airplane knife edge." The pilot stated that he "attempted to correct with hard left rudder and left stick." However, at the time he applied the corrections the gust of wind had subsided and he began to enter a "slow left spiral." The pilot added that he made several attempts to stop the spin; however, he was unsuccessful and the aircraft impacted the ground in a left wing low, nose down attitude. The pilot reported that there were "dust devils" in the area prior to takeoff and that he thought he had encountered one and overcorrected. According to the pilot, the engine and flight controls were functioning correctly, at the time of the accident. The automated weather observation facility at located approximately 7 nautical miles north of the accident site reported winds from 200 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 17 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: private, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 206 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 206 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 90 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 1, 2005
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1915cc (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 69TA Corpus Christi TX
- Destination: Corpus Christi TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 13 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 am from CRP, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.