Amateur-built SE5A REPLICA accident near Rosenberg, Texas, April 16, 1994
On April 16, 1994 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built SE5A REPLICA, registered N38111, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rosenberg, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE WINDS. A FACTOR WAS THE TAILWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 16, 1994 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rosenberg, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SE5A REPLICA SE5A REPLI
- Registration
- N38111 · no longer on the register · serial 071013
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TAXIED THE AIRPLANE TO A POSITION IN THE GRASS 200 FEET PRIOR TO THE RUNWAY TO PROVIDE A TAKEOFF DISTANCE OF 720 FEET. THE REQUIRED TAKEOFF DISTANCE UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS WAS APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET. DURING THE TAKE OFF ROLL THE TAIL CAME OFF THE GROUND PRIOR TO 200 FEET. WHEN THE PILOT STARTED HIS ROTATATION 100 FEET FURTHER DOWN THE RUNWAY, THE TAIL DESCENDED BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY SURFACE. THE WIND WAS 5-15 KNOTS AND CHANGED FROM A RIGHT 45 DEGREE CROSSWIND AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TAKEOFF ROLL TO A 90 DEGREE CROSSWIND AT ROTATION, AND THEN CONTINUED CLOCKWISE TO A DOWN WIND CONDITION. THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY INTO A TERRACED FIELD, THE PILOT MADE A LEFT TURN TO AVOID A DITCH, AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,578 hours in all; 99 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 1,578 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 108 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 1993; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE
- Destination: 3TA1 Manvel TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 520 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.