- Date
- May 19, 2018, 20:00 local (May 20, 2018, 03:00 UTC)
- Place
- Vashon, WA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1423PPiper PA 14
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Status
- Completed · report March 18, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180519005609A
- Case key
- 97296
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 of the airplane during the takeoff roll due to his right foot inadvertently applying pressure to both rudder pedals.
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
According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, his right foot inadvertently applied pressure to both rudder pedals during the takeoff roll. The airplane exited the left side of the runway, and the left wing struck a tree. The airplane ground looped to the left, and the right wingtip struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, elevator, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, his right foot inadvertently applied pressure to the right and left rudder pedals during the takeoff roll at night. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and the left wing struck a tree. The airplane ground-looped to the left and the right wing tip struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, the elevator and the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1423P
- Reported as
- Piper PA 14 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1423
- Built
- 1948
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Kanakanak Fisheries Inc.
- Registered owner
- Kanakanak Fisheries Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2018
- Departed
- 2S1 · Vashon, WA
- Destination
- 2S1 · Vashon, WA
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- 2S1 · Vashon Muni, runway 17, 2,001 × 60 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- Electronic primary flight display, 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
- 72
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 12, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 868.2 total · 167 in this make and model · 868.2 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days · 18.5 in the last 30 days · 2.2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- KSEA, 7 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 16, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.1 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.