# NTSB CEN09CA028: Howard Super Sky Raider, N3903B, Tuscola, IL, October 20, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 20, 2008, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Tuscola, IL - Coordinates: 39.780834, -88.306114 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7808&lon=-88.3061&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Springfield FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 69324 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69324/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA028 ## Probable cause The pilot failed to maintain directional control during takeoff roll. A contributing factor was the cornfield and the pilot's lack of recent experience. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Barner Lonnie Howard SUPER SKYRAIDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=0562600), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Barner Lonnie Howard SUPER SKYRAIDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=0562600), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: recent experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031045): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Barner Lonnie Howard SUPER SKYRAIDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031045/cases.md?model=0562600), [All aircraft, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031045/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Barner Lonnie Howard SUPER SKYRAIDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0562600), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Barner Lonnie Howard SUPER SKYRAIDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0562600), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Barner Lonnie Howard SUPER SKYRAIDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0562600), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was attempting to takeoff from an unpaved runway. During the takeoff roll, the tail wheel equipped, amateur-built airplane started to "angle to the right." The pilot applied hard left rudder pedal, but the airplane continued to turn right and went off the right side of the 30-foot wide runway, and traveled about 35 feet into a cornfield. The airplane was equipped with heel brakes on the bottom of the rudder pedals, but applying pressure to the top of the rudder pedals operated the rudder. The inspection of the airplane revealed that the rudder operated correctly when the left and right rudder pedals were actuated. The right brake actuated when the right brake pedal was applied. The left brake was not actuated due to the impact damage to the left landing gear leg and wheel. The pilot's logbook indicated that he had not flown between 1981 and August 2008. The pilot had flown 1 hour in the accident airplane with an instructor pilot. The accident flight was the pilot's first solo flight in the accident airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was attempting to takeoff from an unpaved runway. During the takeoff roll, the tail wheel equipped, amateur-built airplane started to "angle to the right." The pilot applied hard left rudder pedal, but the airplane continued to turn right and went off the right side of the 30-foot wide runway, and traveled about 35 feet into a cornfield. The airplane was equipped with heel brakes on the bottom of the rudder pedals, but applying pressure to the top of the rudder pedals operated the rudder. The inspection of the airplane revealed that the rudder operated correctly when the left and right rudder pedals were actuated. The right brake actuated when the right brake pedal was applied. The left brake was not actuated due to the impact damage to the left landing gear leg and wheel. The pilot's logbook indicated that he had not flown between 1981 and August 2008. The pilot had flown 1 hour in the accident airplane with an instructor pilot. The accident flight was the pilot's first solo flight in the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3903B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3903B), registered now, S/N 07, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Howard Super Sky Raider - Registry model: [Barner Lonnie Howard SUPER SKYRAIDER](https://openairdocs.org/model/barner-lonnie-howard-super-skyraider) (registry code 0562600) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 2200](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-2200) (registry code 34800, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 07 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jerry D. Jolley - Registered owner: Barner Lonnie Howard - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: K96, Tuscola, IL - Destination: K96, Tuscola, IL - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: K96, Tuscola Airport, runway 27, 2,660 × 30 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; flight hours: 585 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20081020851499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081020851499A), Oct 20, 2008: Barner SUPERSKYRAID, Tuscola, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot of N3903B, an amatuer-built aircraft, was conducting a takeoff maneuver on runway 27 at Tuscola, Illinois, when the aircraft began to veer to… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.