- Date
- August 21, 2004, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Salmon, ID
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N7993ATubbs PA-18-225 DD
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 28, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20040821018949A
- Case key
- 60296
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
Directional control not maintained during the takeoff roll resulting in a runway excursion and subsequent nose over. Factors include a drainage ditch.
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
In a written statement the pilot reported that the airplane "veered to the left" shortly after commencing the takeoff roll. The pilot reported that corrective actions were taken, however, he was unable to correct the situation before the airplane exited the runway edge. After exiting the runway, the airplane encountered a drainage ditch and nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that the winds were calm at the time of the accident. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were reported.
Factual narrative
On August 21, 2004, about 1000 mountain daylight time, a tail-wheel equipped 2004 Tubbs PA-18-225 DD, N7993A, sustained substantial damage following a runway excursion and subsequent nose-over at the Lemhi County Airport, Salmon, Idaho. The airplane is owned by the pilot and was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal/pleasure flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the proposed flight.
In a written statement the pilot reported that the airplane "veered to the left" shortly after commencing the takeoff roll. The pilot reported that corrective actions were taken, however, he was unable to correct the situation before the airplane exited the runway edge. After exiting the runway, the airplane encountered a drainage ditch and nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer.
No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were reported.
The pilot reported that the winds were calm at the time of the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7993A
- Reported as
- Tubbs PA-18-225 DD
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- Pa0204
- Airframe hours
- 25
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- John R. Gregory
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 2004 · 25 hours before
- Departed
- SMN · Salmon, ID
- Destination
- SMN · Salmon, ID
- Airport
- SMN · Lemhi County, runway 35, 5,150 × 60 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 64
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- June 3, 2003
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 4,150 total · 690 in this make and model · 4,150 as pilot in command · 130 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.