# NTSB LAX93LA265: Culver LCA, N29396, San Luis Obispo, CA, June 21, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 21, 1993, 15:22 local (22:22 UTC) - Place: San Luis Obispo, CA - Coordinates: 35.250743, -120.620071 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2507&lon=-120.6201&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28415 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA265 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28415/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA265 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING TAKEOFF. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN TAIL WHEEL AIRCRAFT. ## 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 - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis THE PILOT SAID HE WAS PICKING UP THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH HIS FATHER IN LAW HAD JUST PURCHASED, AND WAS GOING TO FLY IT TO WASHINGTON STATE. THE PILOT NOTED THAT HE INTENDED TO STAY IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO DO SEVERAL TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS PRIOR TO PROCEEDING ON THE DELIVERY FLIGHT. THE RESPONDING FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE PILOT'S LAST TAIL WHEEL AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCE WAS IN 1985, AND, AT THAT TIME, HIS TOTAL TAIL WHEEL EXPERIENCE WAS 250 HOURS. GROUND WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE AFTER A GROUND ROLL OF ABOUT 600 FEET AND IMMEDIATELY YAWED AND ROLLED TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL ON RUNWAY 29 HE LOOKED DOWN AT THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR, AND, WHEN HE LOOKED UP AGAIN, THE AIRCRAFT HAD LIFTED OFF AND WAS ROLLING TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE COULD NOT CORRECT THE ROLL IN TIME TO PREVENT A NOSE DOWN COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. THE WINDS AT THE TIME WERE REPORTED BY THE CONTROL TOWER AT 300 DEGREES AT 18 KTS. ## Factual narrative On June 21, 1993, at 1522 hours Pacfic daylight time, a Culver LCA, N29396, collided with the ground following a loss of control just after lift off from runway 29 at the San Luis Obispo, California, airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was originating as a local traffic pattern practice flight at the time of the mishap. The pilot was interviewed by an inspector from the San Jose, California, Flight Standards District Office. In both his verbal and written statements, the pilot said he was picking up the aircraft which his father-in-law had just purchased, and was going to fly it to Washington state. The pilot noted that he intended to stay in the traffic pattern to do several takeoffs and landings prior to proceeding on the delivery flight. The responding FAA inspector reported that the pilot's last tail wheel aircraft experience was in 1985, and, at that time, his total tail wheel experience was 250 hours. Ground witnesses to the accident reported that the aircraft became airborne after a ground roll of about 600 feet and immediately yawed and rolled to the left. The aircraft collided with the ground adjacent to the runway. The pilot reported that during the takeoff ground roll on runway 29 he looked down at the airspeed indicator, and, when he looked up again, the aircraft had lifted off and was rolling to the left. The pilot stated that he could not correct the roll in time to prevent a nose down collision with the ground. The winds at the time were reported by the control tower at 300 degrees at 18 knots. The aircraft was examined by the responding FAA inspector. He reported that control system continuity was established throughout the aircraft, to include the tail wheel steering mechanism. The pilot did not claim any mechanical malfunction at the time of his interview with the FAA inspector. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29396](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N29396), registered now, S/N 189, built 1940 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CULVER LCA - Registry model: [Culver LCA](https://openairdocs.org/model/culver-lca) (registry code 8730202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-200](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-200) (registry code 17021, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 189 - Airframe hours: 1418 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-200 94 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Chris T. Bevan - Registered owner: John P. Dagle - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 9, 1993, 140 hours before - Departed: SBP - Destination: SBP - Airport: SBP, San Luis Obispo, runway 29, 4,799 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; airline transport, flight engineer, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 11,000 total, 3,000 as pilot in command, 230 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 18 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SBP ## 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 19930621019649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930621019649A), Jun 21, 1993: Supac LCA, San Luis Obispo, CA, Substantial damage. Looked down at airspeed on liftoff. Failed note left wing down until too late. No time in type. Ailerons sensitive. 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.