- Date
- March 30, 2003, 06:15 local (11:15 UTC)
- Place
- Tavernier, FL
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N4315SBeech A36
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 30, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20030330007389A
- Case key
- 56726
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 control interference by the pilot-rated passenger in an attempt to avoid an obstacle, which resulted in a loss of control.
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 stated that during the takeoff roll a dog appeared in front of the airplane, and the next thing he remembered was that the airplane banked left and collided with trees lining the left side of the runway. The pilot-rated passenger/owner of the airplane said that when he saw an animal appear in front of the airplane during the takeoff roll, in an attempt to avoid a collision with the animal he intervened and applied back pressure to the control column to get the airplane airborne. He said he remembered the airplane veering to the left, and he tried to apply right rudder and pushed the control column forward in an attempt to keep the airplane in ground effect. Both the pilot and passenger/owner stated that prior to the accident there had been no mechanical failure or malfunction to the airplane or any of its systems.
Factual narrative
On March 30, 2003, about 0615 eastern standard time, a Beech A36, N4315S, registered to and operated by a private individual as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed during takeoff at Tavernaero Park, Tavernier, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot and pilot-rated passenger received minor injuries, and two other passengers received no injuries. The airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that he was seated in the left seat, and was the pilot operating the flight controls during the takeoff roll. He said that during the takeoff a dog suddenly appeared in front of the airplane, and the next thing he remembered was that the airplane banked left, and collided with trees lining the left side of the runway.
The pilot-rated passenger/owner of the airplane said that when he saw an animal appear in front of the airplane during the takeoff roll, in an attempt to avoid a collision with the animal he applied back pressure to the control column to get the airplane airborne. He said he remembered the airplane veering to the left, and he tried to apply right rudder, and pushed the control column forward in an attempt to keep the airplane in ground effect. He said the airplane collided with trees lining the left side of the runway.
Both the pilot and passenger/owner stated that prior to the accident there had been no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4315S
- Reported as
- Beech A36
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- E685
- Airframe hours
- 5,398
- Engine
- A IO-550-B4F, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Gary J. Larocco
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 19, 2002 · 120 hours before
- Departed
- 72X · Tavernier, FL
- Destination
- WDR · Atlanta, GA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- 72X · Tavernaero, runway 090, 2,000 × 110 ft, grass/turf
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
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- October 1, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 502 total · 79 in this make and model · 384 as pilot in command · 54 in the last 90 days · 28 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 1 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.93 inHg
- Observed at
- HST, 32 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.