# NTSB SEA97LA150: Corben Junior ACE, N9017, East Wenatchee, WA, June 20, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 20, 1997, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: East Wenatchee, WA
- Coordinates: 47.490768, -120.18946 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4908&lon=-120.1895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42640
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA150
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42640/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA150

## Probable cause

The dual student's improper attempt to abort the takeoff and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - aborted takeoff - improper, dual student (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

During takeoff from a grass strip on an instructional flight, the commercially-rated student closed the throttle.  The instructor felt it was too late to stop safety so he applied full throttle and told the student to complete the takeoff.  The airplane veered to the right but became airborne past the end of the runway, then stalled and collided with the ground.

## Factual narrative

On June 20, 1997, about 1630 Pacific daylight time, N9017, a homebuilt Corben Junior Ace impacted terrain during take off from Pangborn Memorial airport, East Wenatchee, Washington.  Visual conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed.  The aircraft received substantial damage but neither the instructor or the student received any injuries.  The flight was departing the airport for a local instructional flight.  The student, who was a commercial pilot, was receiving instruction in the aircraft in order to receive a tail wheel endorsement.

According to the flight instructors statement, they were taking off from a grass runway.  As the airplane was breaking ground, the student closed the throttle.  The instructor felt it was too late in the take off to stop safely so he applied full throttle and told the student to complete the take off.  The airplane veered to the right but became airborne past the end of the runway.  The aircraft stalled, out of ground effect, and collided with the ground.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9017](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9017), registered now, S/N 797-65-20, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Corben JUNIOR ACE
- Registry model: [Vinyard JUNIOR ACE](https://openairdocs.org/model/vinyard-junior-ace) (registry code 003028T) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 797-65-20
- Airframe hours: 411
- Engines: Continental 65-8F 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bovee, Timothy L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 16, 1997, 2 hours before
- Departed: EAT
- Airport: EAT, Pangborn Memorial, runway 7, 1,200 × 50 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,850 total, 3 in this make and model, 7,350 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: KEA, 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19970620047909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970620047909A), Jun 20, 1997: Amtr JUNIORACE, Wenatchee, WA, Substantial damage. (-16) [privacy data omitted]

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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