# NTSB LAX03LA230: Aero Commander S2R, N8912Q, Tulelake, CA, July 10, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 10, 2003, 06:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Tulelake, CA - Coordinates: 41.887222, -121.359443 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8872&lon=-121.3594&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 3, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57457 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA230 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57457/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA230 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and failure to remove the gust lock, which resulted in his loss of airplane control. ## 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 - flight control,gust lock - not removed (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command - terrain condition - open field - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot lost control of the airplane during the ground roll portion of takeoff. The airplane veered off the runway and decelerated in an adjacent soft field. The agricultural flight was originating at the time of the pilot's 0600 departure. The pilot acknowledged that had he performed a better preflight inspection, he would not have left the gust lock on the right aileron. During the takeoff roll, the airplane's wingtip contacted the runway. Thereafter, the airplane slid across the ground and came to a stop in an adjacent field. ## Factual narrative On July 10, 2003, about 0600 Pacific daylight time, an Aero Commander S2R, N8912Q, experienced a loss of control during the takeoff roll at the Tulelake Municipal Airport, Tulelake, California. The airplane veered off the left side of runway 11 and came to rest upon decelerating in a soft field about 200 yards from the runway's edge. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the commercial pilot received a minor injury. The airplane was owned and operated by Macy's Flying Service, Inc., Tulelake. The accident occurred during an attempted takeoff for an agricultural flight performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was originating at the time of the accident. In the pilot's completed "Aircraft Accident Report," he indicated that during the takeoff roll he had experienced a total loss of aileron control. He also indicated that the accident could have been prevented had he performed a better preflight inspection because he would not have left the gust lock on the right aileron. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector opined that the pilot apparently forgot to remove the right aileron to flap gust lock. He further opined that about rotation speed, the pilot would have put down some amount of flaps to aid his takeoff, and the airplane veered off the runway. The airplane's left wing tip struck the ground, and the airplane slid across the ground until coming to a stop in the adjacent field. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8912Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8912Q-2004-03-31), registration cancelled 2004-03-31, S/N 1582R, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aero Commander S2R - Registry model: [Aero Commander S2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-s2r) (registry code 0143022) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1582R - Airframe hours: 8818 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Macy's Flying Service, Inc. - Registered owner: Macy's Flying Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 2002, 72 hours before - Departed: O81, Tulelake, CA - Destination: O81, Newell, CA - Airport: O81, Tulelake Municipal, runway 11, 3,577 × 44 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 1, 2002; seat: single; flight hours: 23,642 total, 975 in this make and model, 23,369 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: LMT, 23 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030710018909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030710018909A), Jul 10, 2003: Ayres S2R, Tulelake, CA, Destroyed. (-23) The pilot forgot or overlooked removing the right aileron to flap gust lock during the preflight. At rotation speed the pilot put some flaps down to aid… 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.