- Date
- May 26, 2011, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Quincy, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1137DCessna 140A
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 19, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110526010209A
- Case key
- 79282
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The private pilot's inability to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The commercial pilot stated that the private pilot had just purchased the tailwheel-equipped airplane and asked the commercial pilot to accompany him on a flight around the airport traffic pattern in order to familiarize himself with it. The commercial pilot stated that the private pilot exhibited difficulty taxiing the airplane due to weakness on the left side of his body from a stroke sustained several years prior. The private pilot taxied to the runway and applied full engine power to take off; during the takeoff roll the airplane veered off the runway and into the grass on the right side of the runway. The commercial pilot stated that he attempted to apply control inputs to correct the airplane's path, but the airplane nosed over and the propeller impacted the ground. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall and right wing. The investigation found no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The commercial pilot stated that the private pilot had just purchased the tailwheel-equipped airplane, and asked the commercial pilot to accompany him on a flight around the airport traffic pattern in order to familiarize himself with the airplane. The commercial pilot stated that the private pilot exhibited difficulty taxiing the airplane due to weakness on one side of his body from a stroke sustained several years prior. The private pilot taxied to the runway and applied full engine power to takeoff, and during the takeoff roll the airplane veered off the runway and into the grass on the right side of the runway. The commercial pilot stated that he attempted to apply control inputs to correct the airplane's path, but the airplane nosed over, and the propeller impacted the ground. Postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall and right wing. The inspector stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1137D
- Reported as
- Cessna 140A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15700
- Engine
- Continental Motors C85, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert G Bevil
- Registered owner
- Robert G Bevil
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 2J9 · Quincy, FL
- Destination
- 2J9 · Quincy, FL
- Airport
- 2J9 · Quincy Municipal Airport, runway 32, 2,964 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 70
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,000 total · 0 in this make and model
- Role
- Other flight crew
- Age
- 58
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 5,500 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,300 ft broken
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- TLH, 16 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 17, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 356 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.