- Date
- August 4, 2000, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Davis, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N300REPiper PA-30
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 25, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20000804007029A
- Case key
- 49963
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 dual student's improper response to a simulated engine failure and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action and inadequate supervision of the flight.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane sustained substantial damage when it veered off the runway and collided with a runway light during a simulated engine failure in the takeoff ground roll . The certified flight instructor (CFI) explained to his student that he would be simulating an engine failure on the takeoff roll and proceeded to retard the right throttle. The CFI waited for his student to apply the proper correction procedures; however, the airplane continued to drift to the right side of the runway. The CFI pulled both throttles but realized at that point that he did not have any brakes on his side of the airplane. He increased the throttles and the airplane "violently swerved and rolled" to the left as it became airborne. As the airplane drifted down the runway in ground effect, the CFI regained control and continued the departure. The CFI and student made another practice stop-and-go landing. During the taxi back, they noticed the left wing tip was missing and returned to their home base.
Factual narrative
On August 4, 2000, about 0900 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-30, N300RE, veered off the runway and collided with a runway light during takeoff from Yolo County Airport, Davis, California. Travis Air Force Base USAF Aero Club was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the commercial rated multiengine student were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The instructional flight departed the private Travis AFB Aero Club airport about 0830. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
In a written statement given by the CFI, he stated that he explained to his student that he would be simulating an engine failure on the takeoff roll and proceeded to retard the right throttle. The airplane started to drift to the right and the CFI said he felt the distinct application of left rudder. As the CFI waited for his student to apply the proper correction procedures, the airplane continued to drift to the right side of the runway.
The CFI pulled both throttles but realized at that point that he did not have any brakes on his side of the airplane. He increased the throttles and the airplane "violently swerved" and rolled to the left as it became airborne. As the airplane drifted down the runway in ground effect, the CFI regained control and continued the departure.
The CFI and student continued back around to practice another stop-and-go landing. During the taxi back for takeoff they noticed "something shiny" on the side of the runway. The CFI noticed the left wing tip was missing. The CFI then took control of the airplane and flew it back to Travis AFB Aero Club airport.
The pilot and operator submitted written statements, but did not submit an NTSB 6120.1/2 pilot/operator report.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N300RE
- Reported as
- Piper PA-30
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 30-841
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Travis Afb Aeroclub
- Registered owner
- Joseph C. Hefferon
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 8Q0 · Fairfield, CA
- Destination
- 2Q3
- Airport
- 2Q3 · Yolo County, runway 16, 6,000 × 100 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
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 23
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Flight hours
- 1,434 total · 307 in the last 90 days · 126 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,151 total · 19 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SMF, 15 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N300RE · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.