# NTSB SEA03LA126: Druckman 102, N102DR, Alsea, OR, July 7, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 6, 2003, 19:00 local (Jul 7, 2003, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Alsea, OR
- Coordinates: 44.366664, -123.583335
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3667&lon=-123.5833&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Portland FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 57396
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA126
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57396/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA126

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the take-off roll, when his foot became lodged between the rudder pedal and the heel brake.  An additional factor is a fence near the area where he was taking off from.

## 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
  - flight control,rudder - entangled (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run
  - object - fence (contributing factor)

## Analysis

During the takeoff roll, the pilot's left foot became lodged between the left rudder pedal and the left heel brake. When the airplane started to veer to the left, the pilot attempted to correct with right rudder, but was unable to maintain directional control because of his lodged left foot. The aircraft was then substantially damaged when it departed the left side of the runway and struck a fence.

## Factual narrative

On July 6, 2003, about 1900 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Druckman 102 tail wheel-equipped aircraft, N102DR, registered to and being flown by an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP), struck a fence during an aborted takeoff from a private field in Alsea, Oregon. Neither the pilot nor his passenger were injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan had been filed.  The flight, which was personal in nature, was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll his left foot became lodged between the left rudder pedal and the left heel brake. When the airplane started to veer to the left, the pilot attempted to correct with right rudder, but was unable to maintain directional control because of his lodged left foot. He therefore elected to abort the takeoff, but during his attempt to stop the aircraft, it departed the left side of the runway and impacted a fence.

According to the pilot, there were no indications of any malfunctions in the aircraft's braking or tailwheel steering systems.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N102DR (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Druckman 102
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1005
- Airframe hours: 183
- Engines: Continental C85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 26, 2002, 6 hours before
- Departed: Alsea, OR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 1, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 24,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KONP, 23 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20030706013669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030706013669A), Jul 6, 2003: Amtr DRUCKMAN102, Alsea, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) At approximately 1900 hours PST on July 6, 2003 pilot robert schwarzler, with one passenger on board, crashed while attempting a takeoff from a Private…

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.

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