NTSB Factual Report

On April 1, 2001, at 1415 central daylight time, a Cessna 195B tail-wheel equipped airplane, N195S, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during takeoff from the Montgomery County Airport, Conroe, Texas. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant and registered owner of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight was departing from the Montgomery County Airport at the time of the accident.

According to a written statement provided by the pilot, he was taking off from runway 19. He stated that the wind was from 170 degrees at 9 knots, and he did not use any "crosswind technique." During the takeoff roll, the left wing raised and right wing tip dragged on the ground. The pilot applied full left aileron and right rudder; however, the airplane weather vaned into the wind. As the airplane neared the edge of the runway, the pilot reduced the power, and the airplane "immediately nosed down and landed on its back."

According to the pilot, the propeller, engine cowling, firewall, engine, fuselage, both wings, and the empennage sustained damage.

In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), under the section titled "Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented)," the pilot wrote, "use crosswind [takeoff] technique."

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to compensate for the wind conditions during takeoff, which resulted in a ground loop.