- Date
- December 3, 2013, 09:37 local (14:37 UTC)
- Place
- Crescent City, FL
- Injuries
- 4 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N71DFAero Commander 680E
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 1, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- FAA report
- 20131203025369A
- Case key
- 88508
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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Findings · 3
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 pilot reported that the airplane "hesitated" during the takeoff roll due to the added weight of the passengers on board and the grass surface of the departure airstrip. He said he then added "extra" engine power at rotation, and that the left engine accelerated more quickly than the right, which resulted in an adverse yaw to the right and collision with trees along the right side of the runway. The subsequent collision with trees and terrain resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. According to the pilot, there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that would have prevented normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that the airplane "hesitated" during the takeoff roll due to the added weight of the passengers on board and the grass surface of the departure airstrip. He said he then added "extra" engine power at rotation, and that the left engine accelerated more quickly than the right, which resulted in an adverse yaw to the right and collision with trees along the right side of the runway. The subsequent collision with trees and terrain resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. According to the pilot, there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that would have prevented normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N71DF
- Reported as
- Aero Commander 680E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 680E-672-12
- Built
- 1958
- Airframe hours
- 8,400
- Engines
- Lycoming IGSO-480, reciprocatingLycoming IGSO-480, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 10, 2001 · 60 hours before
- Departed
- 28FL · Crescent City, FL
- Destination
- 28J · Palatka, FL
- Airport
- 28FL · Jim Finlay Farm, runway 36, 2,400 × 100 ft, grass/turf
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 67
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 15,000 total · 100 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.97 inHg
- Observed at
- XFL, 20 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 14, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 8.1 MB 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.