# Accident 20090204001229A: Doug DC3, Mojave, CA, February 4, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 4, 2009, 08:50 local time
- Place: Mojave, CA
- Airport: Mojave
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.0586° N, 118.1506° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0586&lon=-118.1506&mi=10
- Aircraft: N834TP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N834TP-2009-04-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Douglas DC3 (registry code 3021401, https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-65AR (registry code 52107, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6-65ar) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUG DC3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 18,000 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR09LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA108) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090204001229A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON FEBRUARY 4, 2009, ABOUT 0850 PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A DOUGLAS DC-3, N834TP, VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING TAKEOFF AT MOJAVE, CALIFORNIA.  THE NATIONAL TEST PILOT SCHOOL WAS OPERATING THE AIRPLANE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91.  THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WITH CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) CERTIFICATE AND THE STUDENT PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.  THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE FROM IMPACT FORCES.   THE LOCAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WAS DEPARTING AT THE TIME.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED.  THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND DEPARTED THE RUNWAY DURING TAKEOFF.  THE AIRPLANE HIT A BERM, TEMPORARILY BECAME AIRBORNE, AND THEN LANDED HARD.  THE PILOT FAILED TO OBSERVE THAT THE RUDDER TRIM WAS DEPLOYED FULLY TO THE RIGHT BEFORE HE INITIATED THE TAKEOFF.  SUBSEQUENTLY, CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOST AS ROTATION WAS INITIATED.  ALSO, AS THE AIRPLANE LEFT THE RUNWAY THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO REDUCE THE POWER DUE TO THE BOUNCING OF THE AIRPLANE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR09LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA108), Feb 4, 2009: Douglas DC-3/65AR (N834TP), Mojave, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot failed to follow the checklist and set the takeoff trim properly prior to takeoff resulting in a loss of directional control. Contributing to the accident were the certified flight…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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