# NTSB SEA82DA068: de Havilland 2, N1434Z, 15n Of Medford, OR, May 9, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: May 9, 1982, 16:05 local (23:05 UTC)
- Place: 15n Of Medford, OR
- Coordinates: 42.279384, -122.900451 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2794&lon=-122.9005&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 10 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 69625
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA82DA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69625/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA82DA068

## 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
  - passenger briefing - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flt control syst,rudder control - movement restricted (cause)
  - control interference - inadvertent, passenger (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - downhill (contributing factor)
  - object (contributing factor)
  - object - aircraft parked/standing (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STARTED A DOWNWIND TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 15 WITH 9 PARACHUTISTS ON BOARD. THE RUNWAY WAS UNIDIRECTIONAL REQUIRING TAKEOFFS ON RUNWAY 15 WHICH SLOPED DOWNHILL. AFTER BEGINNING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE PILOT HAD DIFFICULITY IN MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND INITIATED ABORT PROCEDURES. REPORTEDLY, THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO VEER TO THE RIGHT IN SPITE OF THE USE OF HARD LEFT RUDDER AND BRAKING ACTION. AS THE AIRCRAFT DECELERATED, IT DEPARTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, STRUCK 3 FENCE POSTS, AND COLLIDED WITH A PARKED STINSON, N368C. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE PARACHUTIST OCCUPYING THE COPILOT'S SEAT STATED THAT HE HAD PLACED HIS FEET BEHIND THE RUDDER PEDALS SHORTLY BEFORE TAKEOFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1434Z (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland 2
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5116860
- Airframe hours: 6476
- Engines: P&W 985-39 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Operator: Ralph A. Hatley
- Registered owner: Oregon Skysports
- Departed: OR96, 15N OF MEDFORD, OR
- Destination: OR96, 15N OF MEDFORD, OR
- Airport: OR96, Beagle Sky Ranch, runway 15, 3,000 × 100 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 3,965 total, 63 in this make and model, 3,861 as pilot in command, 81 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 131 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MFR, 9 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 19820509014389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820509014389A), May 9, 1982: Dhav DHC2*, Medford, OR, Substantial damage. Passenger's feet jammed rudder pedals on takeoff roll. Pilot aborted, ran off runway into a parked airplane.

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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