- Date
- July 16, 2015, 04:05 local (11:05 UTC)
- Place
- Rosamond, CA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N8028ACessna 170B
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report September 11, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA Van Nuys FSDO
- FAA report
- 20150716012679A
- Case key
- 91691
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 the takeoff roll, resulting in a collision with terrain.
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 of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the takeoff roll, the tail lifted, and the airplane yawed to the left. The airplane then yawed to the right, the tail came down, and "bounced on the runway several times." She reported that the airplane departed the runway to the right, impacted a chain link fence, and came to a stop on a dirt berm. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and the empennage. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the takeoff roll, the tail lifted, and the airplane yawed to the left. The airplane then yawed to the right, the tail came down, and "bounced on the runway several times." She reported that the airplane departed the runway to the right, impacted a chain link fence, and came to a stop on a dirt berm. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and the empennage. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8028A
- Reported as
- Cessna 170B (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20880
- Built
- 1952
- Airframe hours
- 9,655.4
- Engine
- Cont Motor C-145, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Wang Grace H
- Registered owner
- Wang Grace H
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 5, 2015
- Departed
- L00 · Rosamond, CA
- Destination
- INW · Winslow, AZ
- Airport
- L00 · Rosamond Skypark, runway 26, 3,600 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device
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
- 25
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 23, 2014
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 125 total · 43 in this make and model · 63 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- 240° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.94 inHg
- Observed at
- KWJF, 8 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 13, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.8 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.