# NTSB LAX00LA180: Tracy Lancair 235, N235RL, Redding, CA, April 29, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 29, 2000, 10:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Redding, CA - Coordinates: 40.600944, -122.460334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6009&lon=-122.4603&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49084 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA180 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49084/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA180 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - reason for occurrence undetermined - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis The airplane was destroyed in a post impact fire after the airplane departed the runway, struck a berm, became airborne, and came back to rest on the runway during the takeoff roll. The pilot attempted to correct for the movement to the left with right rudder; however, the airplane continued to leave the runway. Reported winds at the time of the accident were from the north-northwest at 5 knots. The airplane was inspected at a remote location after the retrieval. A malfunction could not be determined because of fire damage to the airplane, and the removal of the rudder prior to the inspection. ## Factual narrative On April 29, 2000, at 1045 hours Pacific daylight time, a Tracy Lancair 235, N235RL, veered to the left of runway 34 on the takeoff roll at the Redding Municipal Airport, Redding, California. The airplane became airborne, collided with an embankment, and was destroyed in the post impact fire. The airplane was operated by the pilot/owner under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the personal flight and no flight plan was filed. The flight was scheduled to terminate at the Sonoma Skypark Airport, Sonoma, California. The aviation surface weather report for the Redding airport at 0956 was: visibility 10 miles; clear; winds from 330 degrees at 7 knots gusting to 15 knots; temperature 64 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 36 degrees Fahrenheit, and altimeter setting 30.18 inHg. At 1056, the winds were from 030 degrees at 5 knots. The pilot stated that on the takeoff roll the airplane moved left of centerline. He applied right rudder, but this did not correct the movement to the left. He further stated that the pressure in his right leg seemed "excessive" for a normal takeoff. The airplane "suddenly" veered to the left, struck a berm, spun into the air, and came to rest on a taxiway. A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector inspected the airplane. He stated that prior to his arrival the airplane had been removed from the accident site and placed on a trailer. He was unable to determine what components had been damaged during the retrieval process. He further indicated that he was unable to determine if the rudder was intact prior to the impact because it had been removed before he arrived. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N235RL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N235RL-2001-05-01), registration cancelled 2001-05-01, S/N BT004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Tracy LANCAIR 235 (LANCAIR 23) - Registry model: [Tracy Bill D LANCAIR](https://openairdocs.org/model/tracy-bill-d-lancair) (registry code 05612HB) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: BT004 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Silvano F. Payne - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 1999, 750 hours before - Departed: RDD - Destination: 0Q9, SONOMA, CA - Airport: RDD, Redding Municipal, runway 34, 7,003 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 523 total, 39 in this make and model, 454 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RDD ## 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 20000429040409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000429040409A), Apr 29, 2000: Amtr LANCAIR235, Redding, CA, No damage. (-23) The aircraft departed on runway 32 at Redding Municipal Airport, on the takeoff roll the aircraft veered to the left, then became airborne and collided… 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.