- Date
- July 7, 2008, 18:30 local (Jul 8, 2008, 01:30 UTC)
- Place
- Arlington, WA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N918LAEvektor-Aerotechnik SportStar
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Runway excursion
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 11, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20080707841639A
- Case key
- 68539
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 airplane during the takeoff roll in gusty conditions.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The student pilot reported that during the takeoff roll on runway 34, the airplane was buffeted by a gust of wind and it yawed to the left. He applied full opposite rudder control; however, the airplane veered off the runway. After the airplane exited the runway, the right main landing gear leg collapsed and the airplane came to rest adjacent to the runway. The student pilot stated that the winds at the time of the accident were from 280 degrees at 11 knots. No mechanical failures or malfunctions were reported.
Factual narrative
On July 7, 2008, at 1830 Pacific daylight time, an Evektor-Aerotechnik AS SportStar special light sport airplane (S-LSA), N918LA, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control during the takeoff roll at the Arlington Municipal Airport, Arlington, Washington. The LSA student pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane is registered to a private party and operated by Northwest Aviation Center of Everett, Washington. The local area instructional flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
In a written statement the student pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, on runway 34, the airplane was "buffeted" by a gust of wind and yawed to the left. He applied corrective actions, full opposite rudder; however the airplane exited the runway edge. After the airplane exited the runway, the right main landing gear leg collapsed and the airplane came to rest adjacent to the runway. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and right wing.
The student pilot reported that winds at the time of the accident were from 280 degrees at 11 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N918LA
- Reported as
- Evektor-Aerotechnik SportStar
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 918
- Airframe hours
- 195
- Engine
- Rotax 912, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Northwest Aviation Center
- Registered owner
- Marsha Thue
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 15, 2008 · 95 hours before
- Departed
- KAWO · Arlington, WA
- Destination
- KAWO · Arlington, WA
- Airport
- KAWO · Arlington, runway 34, 5,332 × 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
- 51
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 50 total · 17 in this make and model · 1 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Observed at
- KAWO, 1 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.