- Date
- October 31, 1995, 08:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place
- Davis, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3562APiper PA-22-135
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 29, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951031038799A
- Case key
- 29326
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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll by diverting his attention.
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
During the takeoff roll in the conventional gear airplane, the pilot diverted his attention to the airplane's floor and did not initially observe the airplane veering off the runway. The pilot reduced engine power and applied brakes. The airplane exited off the side of the runway, encountered soft terrain, and nosed over. He reported no mechanical problems.
Factual narrative
On October 31, 1995, about 0815 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-22-135, N3562A, nosed over during takeoff from the University Airport, Davis, California. The personal flight was being initiated at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was equipped with conventional landing gear and was substantially damaged. Neither the commercial pilot nor passenger was injured.
The pilot reported that his attention was diverted during the takeoff roll on runway 16. He looked down at the floor and did not initially observe the airplane veering off course to the left. The pilot further reported that he reduced engine power and applied brakes. The airplane exited the runway, encountered soft terrain, and nosed over. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3562A
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-135
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-1831
- Airframe hours
- 2,756
- Engine
- Lycoming O-290-D2, 135 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- William H. Farmer
- Registered owner
- Edward Crotty
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 1995 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- 0O5
- Destination
- 045 · Vacaville, CA
- Airport
- 0O5 · University, runway 16, 3,185 × 50 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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 64
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,000 total · 1,000 in this make and model · 3,000 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
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 N3562A · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.