# NTSB LAX82FVG28: Miller Tufts T-3-160, N1051K, Placerville, CA, July 6, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: July 6, 1982, 09:10 local (16:10 UTC)
- Place: Placerville, CA
- Location: 38.7311° N, 120.7977° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Placerville, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7311&lon=-120.7977&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 6, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72243
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82FVG28
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72243/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82FVG28

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff
  - lift-off - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - downhill (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE HOME BUILT ACFT WAS OF THE PLT'S OWN DESIGN. IT WAS A 4 PLACE, LOW WING ACFT WITH A LARGE CANOPY & SMALLER VERT TAIL SURFACES AND WAS EQUIPPED WITH FLAPS, FOLDING WINGS & FIXED TAIL WHL GEAR. THE PLT/DESIGNER WAS TRYING A NEW CONCEPT OF LATERAL CONTROL BY USING "ROLLERONS" INSTEAD OF CONVENTIONAL AILERONS. THEY OPERATED SOMEWHAT LIKE SPOILERS ON A GLIDER. THE ROLLERONS WERE 2 FT LONG, 6 IN WIDE, INSTLD ON THE TOP & BOTTOM OF EACH WING AT THE TIPS. FOR A RGT TURN, THE RGT TOP ROLLERON WOULD MOVE UP 8 THE LFT BOTTOM WOULD MOVE DWN WHILE THE OTR 2 RMND IMMOBILE. FOR A HI SPD TAXI TEST, THE RUDDER & ELEVATORS WERE TUFTED WITH YARN TO SHOW AIRFLOW & AN ASSOCIATE FLWD TO OBSV. HE RPRTD THAT THE ACFT BCM AIRBORNE, VEERED OFF THE RWY, WENT DWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT, THEN CRASHED & BURNED. ANOTHER ASSOCIATE OF THE PLT RPRTD THAT WHEN HE TAXIED THE ACFT AT HI SPD, IT FELT LIKE IT WAS CROSS-CONTROLLED & THERE WAS A "DEAD SPOT" WHEN THE "ROLLERON" CONTROL WAS AT THE NEUTRAL POSITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1051K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1051K-1982-11-11), registration cancelled 1982-11-11, S/N 1 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MILLER TUFTS T-3-160 (TUFTS T-3-)
- Registry model: [Tufts Warren T3-160 GOSHAWK](https://openairdocs.org/model/tufts-warren-t3-160-goshawk) (registry code 0566163) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1
- Airframe hours: 3
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Warren Tufts
- Registered owner: Warren Tufts
- Departed: PLACERVILLE, CA
- Destination: PLACERVILLE, CA
- Airport: runway 23, 4,200 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 500 total, 495 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Temperature: 149 °F

## 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 19820706026129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820706026129A), Jul 6, 1982: Amtr GOSHAWK, Placerville, CA, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed and burned when aircraft lifted off during high speed taxi test. New control system being tested.

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.

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