- Date
- September 30, 2001, 14:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place
- Estacada, OR
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1021EBellanca 7ECA
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 26, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA - FSDO
- FAA report
- 20010930026079A
- Case key
- 53545
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 of the aircraft during the takeoff ground roll. A tailwind, fence and the pilot's lack of total experience in the type of aircraft were factors.
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 reported that he was taking off with a tailwind. During the ground roll, about 50 feet after the tail wheel was raised, the aircraft veered to the right. The pilot applied full left rudder control, however, the aircraft continued to the right off the side of the runway and collided with a fence. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time, and that he did not have enough experience in the aircraft for a downwind takeoff.
Factual narrative
On September 30, 2001, about 1415 Pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 7ECA, N1021E, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, ran off the side of the runway and collided with a fence at the Valley View airport, Estacada, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot received minor injuries, and the passenger was not injured.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was taking off on runway 34 with a tailwind. During the take off roll, about fifty feet after the tail wheel was raised, the aircraft veered to the right. The pilot applied full left rudder control, however, the aircraft continued to the right off the side of the runway and collided with a fence. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time.
The pilot reported a total flight time of 390 hours with 15 hours in the make and model aircraft involved in the accident. The pilot also reported that he did not have enough experience in the aircraft for a downwind takeoff.
At 1353, Aurora State Airport, Aurora, Oregon, located about 19 nautical miles southwest of Estacada was reporting the surface winds from 100 degrees at nine knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1021E
- Reported as
- Bellanca 7ECA
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1204-77
- Airframe hours
- 1,677
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-C1, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Edward G. Micallef
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 8, 2001 · 280 hours before
- Departed
- Estacada, OR
- Airport
- 5S9 · Valley View, runway 34, 3,780 × 32 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
- 65
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- January 9, 2000
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 390 total · 15 in this make and model · 390 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Observed at
- UAO, 19 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.