# NTSB CHI08CA249: Morane-Saulnier MS-760/B, N69X, St Paul, MN, August 9, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 9, 2008, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: St Paul, MN - Coordinates: 44.934722, -93.060279 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9347&lon=-93.0603&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68925 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA249 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68925/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA249 ## Probable cause Restriction of the elevator controls due to the presence of the seat belt buckled around the co-pilot control stick. An additional cause was the failure of the pilot to verify that the flight controls were unobstructed before flight. Contributing factors were the wet grass encountered during the runway excursion, and the sign and light impacted during the event. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: elevator control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Morane-Saulnier MS760B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md?model=5910106), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022730/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Morane-Saulnier MS760B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=5910106), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Morane-Saulnier MS760B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md?model=5910106), [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Morane-Saulnier MS760B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=5910106), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Morane-Saulnier MS760B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md?model=5910106), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Morane-Saulnier MS760B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=5910106), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Morane-Saulnier MS760B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5910106), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Morane-Saulnier MS760B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5910106), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he initiated the takeoff as normal. However, as the airplane accelerated through 80 knots the nose lifted "abruptly." He could not move the control stick far enough forward to lower the nose and level the airplane. As a result, he elected to reject the takeoff. The pilot used elevator trim, which lowered the nose enough for landing. The pilot reported the airplane touched down on the runway, but with the left wing low. The airplane drifted to the left and departed the runway pavement "at a shallow angle." The nose wheel steering had been disengaged during takeoff roll in accordance with standard flight manual procedures. As a result, the pilot was limited to differential braking to maintain control. The airplane encountered wet grass adjacent to the runway, and subsequently struck a runway sign and a light before coming to a stop. A post accident inspection revealed that the right front (co-pilot) seat belt had been buckled around the flight control stick, out of sight of the pilot, restricting full movement of the controls. The airplane sustained impact damage to the left wing, including the leading edge fuel tank and wing ribs. The pilot commented that he removed the co-pilot control stick to eliminate any possibility of a similar event in the future. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he initiated the takeoff as normal. However, as the airplane accelerated through 80 knots the nose lifted "abruptly." He could not move the control stick far enough forward to lower the nose and level the airplane. As a result, he elected to reject the takeoff. The pilot used elevator trim, which lowered the nose enough for landing. The pilot reported the airplane touched down on the runway, but with the left wing low. The airplane drifted to the left and departed the runway pavement "at a shallow angle." The nose wheel steering had been disengaged during takeoff roll in accordance with standard flight manual procedures. As a result, the pilot was limited to differential braking to maintain control. The airplane encountered wet grass adjacent to the runway, and subsequently struck a runway sign and a light before coming to a stop. A post accident inspection revealed that the right front (co-pilot) seat belt had been buckled around the flight control stick, out of sight of the pilot, restricting full movement of the controls. The airplane sustained impact damage to the left wing, including the leading edge fuel tank and wing ribs. The pilot commented that he removed the co-pilot control stick to eliminate any possibility of a similar event in the future. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N69X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N69X-2024-12-17), registration cancelled 2024-12-17, S/N 90 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Morane-Saulnier MS-760/B - Registry model: [Morane-Saulnier MS760B](https://openairdocs.org/model/morane-saulnier-ms760b) (registry code 5910106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Turbomeca MARBORE IIC](https://openairdocs.org/engine/turbomeca-marbore-iic) (registry code 60004, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 90 - Airframe hours: 2945 - Engines: Turbomeca V1-C2 1081 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2007 - Departed: STP, St Paul, MN - Destination: RPD, Rice Lake, WI - Airport: STP, St Paul Downtown, runway 32, 6,491 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 1,826 total, 918 in this make and model, 1,750 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: STP ## 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 20080809846349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080809846349A), Aug 9, 2008: Mnslnr MS760B, St Paul, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) The co-pilot's seat belt had been previously wrapped around the co-pilot's control stick, a situation that went undetected by the pilot on this flight.… 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.