# NTSB SEA98IA153: Embraer EMB-135, Moses Lake, WA, July 30, 1998

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: July 29, 1998, 19:45 local (Jul 30, 1998, 02:45 UTC)
- Place: Moses Lake, WA
- Coordinates: 47.18917, -119.299613 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1892&lon=-119.2996&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 43572
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98IA153
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43572/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98IA153

## Probable cause

Aircraft control was not maintained.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff
  - object - airport sign/marker
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that shortly after liftoff during a minimum unstick speed flight test, a 'maximum angle of attack overshoot occurred.'  The pilot stated that during the recovery process, the aircraft touched down and veered to the left.  The pilot corrected with a right bank.  During the banking turn, the right wingtip and aileron dragged on the runway surface and the left main landing gear struck two runway edge lighting signs.  The aircraft became airborne again at a lower angle of attack and continued to climb.  The aircraft then returned for landing without further incident.  During the recovery maneuver, an emergency vehicle that was positioned near the runway and supporting the flight test, took evasive action to avoid a collision when the aircraft came within 50 feet of its position.

## Factual narrative

On July 29, 1998, at 1945 Pacific daylight time, an Embraer EMB-135, PTZJA, registered to and operated by Embraer, as a 14 CFR Part 91 test flight, dragged a wing tip on the runway and damaged runway signs during a minimum unstick speed flight test at the Grant County Airport, Moses Lake, Washington.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.  The airplane received minor damage and the two airline transport pilots and flight engineer, were not injured.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that shortly after liftoff from runway 32 right during a minimum unstick speed flight test, a "maximum angle of attack overshoot occurred."  The pilot stated that during the recovery process, the aircraft touched down and veered to the left.   The pilot corrected with a right bank.  During the banking turn, the right wingtip and aileron dragged on the runway surface and the left main landing gear struck two runway edge lighting signs near the midfield intersection.  The aircraft became airborne again at a lower angle of attack and continued to climb.  The pilot stated that the aircraft was then landed on the opposite runway without further incident.

During the recovery maneuver, an emergency vehicle that was positioned near the runway and supporting the flight test, took evasive action to avoid a collision when the aircraft came within 50 feet of its position.

## Aircraft

- Registration: PTZJA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Embraer EMB-135
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 145801
- Airframe hours: 1326
- Engines: Allison AE 3007A 7426 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 91
- Registered owner: Embraer
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 24, 1998, 8 hours before
- Airport: MWH, Grant County, runway 32R, 13,502 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial, foreign; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 46 in this make and model, 8,300 as pilot in command, 126 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MWH

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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