Piper PA-25-260 accident near Llano, California, November 27, 2009
On November 27, 2009 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-260, registered N9600P, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Llano, California (Crystal Airport). It was a glider-towing 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 inadequate compensation for the gusting crosswind conditions and failure to maintain lateral and directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 27, 2009 · about 10:45 pm local time · cases in 2009
- Place
- Llano, California · Crystal Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-260 · all PA-25-260s on the register
- Registration
- N9600P · no longer on the register · serial 25-7556113
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Glider-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was taking off in a gusting 15-knot left crosswind with a glider in tow. He said he was holding the aileron control to the left during the takeoff roll, and, as the airplane lifted off, it rolled immediately to the right. The pilot then applied full left aileron, but was unable to maintain control of the airplane and he released the tow rope. The airplane subsequently collided with terrain causing substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. The closest official weather reporting station, located 15 miles northwest of the accident site, indicated the winds were at 20 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The private airport was not equipped with official weather reporting facilities. Post-accident examination of the aircraft by FAA inspectors revealed no anomalies with the airplane's flight control systems.
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
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,295 hours in all; 71 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,105 as pilot in command; 420 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 9, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,303 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 8, 2009; 106 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 46CN Llano CA
- Destination: 46CN Llano CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 4,500 ft by 250 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from PMD, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on December 28, 2009. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation: Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation: FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N9600P: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Piper PA-25 Pawnee 455 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,839 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 SERIES 5,245 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Crystal Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,158 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR10CA067.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.