Probable cause
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff site.
NTSB analysis
The commercial pilot ran out of gas and safely landed his open-cockpit experimental airplane in a field. He obtained 4.5 gallons of fuel and noted that the field grass was low-to-mid ankle high and relatively thin, which would lengthen his take-off distance. During the take-off roll, at approximately 40 miles per hour, the left main landing gear wheel struck uneven terrain and sheered it off, which caused the left main landing gear strut to dig into the ground and flip the airplane over. As a result, the vertical fin and the engine mounts were substantially damaged. The gear failed at a flat weld that attached a metal plate to the landing gear through the brake assembly. It could not be determined when the weld had been done.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN10CA288 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 29, 2010
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Early, Texas
- Nearest airport
- None
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built AIRCAMPER A
- N-number
- N3472
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.