- Date
- June 17, 1997, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Hollister, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1819NCessna 120
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970617015119A
- Case key
- 29815
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 excessive use of right rudder during the initial stages of the takeoff ground roll, which resulted in his failure to maintain directional control. The unfavorable wind was a related factor.
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 pilot said he lost control of the airplane as he applied right rudder to maintain runway alignment during the takeoff ground roll. The airplane then veered to the right and departed the runway. The airplane nosed over when he applied the brakes to avoid a collision with vegetation and another airplane. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane before the accident, and the winds were variable at 15 to 20 knots.
Factual narrative
On June 17, 1997, at 1300 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 120, N1819N, nosed over after an on ground loss of control during takeoff from the Hollister, California, Municipal Airport. The airplane was substantially damaged and the certificated commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated by the owner/pilot as a personal flight when the accident occurred. The flight was destined for San Jose, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
The pilot indicated he applied right rudder as the airplane accelerated to maintain runway alignment. The airplane then veered to the right and departed the runway. The airplane nosed over when the pilot applied the brakes to avoid a collision with vegetation and an airplane on another runway.
The pilot also indicated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane before the accident.
The pilot reported the winds were variable and gusting 15 to 20 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1819N
- Reported as
- Cessna 120
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12063
- Airframe hours
- 4,271
- Engine
- Continental C85, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Gregory Dennis
- Registered owner
- Ames Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 26, 1997 · 37 hours before
- Destination
- SJC · San Jose, CA
- Airport
- 3O7 · Hollister Municipal, runway 31, 6,350 × 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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 344 total · 14 in this make and model · 109 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SNS, 17 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.