- Date
- May 23, 2009, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Robbins, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3094LAyres S2R-T34
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 19, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration FSDO
- Case key
- 73918
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 during the takeoff roll on a rough runway surface.
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
During the takeoff roll, the agricultural category airplane encountered a rough patch on the runway surface of the agricultural airstrip. The pilot then lost control of the airplane, which ground looped, departed the runway, and came to rest in an adjacent canal. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar during the accident sequence. There was no report of a mechanical failure or malfunction.
Factual narrative
During the takeoff roll, the agricultural category airplane encountered a rough patch on the runway surface of the agricultural airstrip. The pilot then lost control of the airplane, which ground looped, departed the runway, and came to rest in an adjacent canal. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar during the accident sequence. There was no report of a mechanical failure or malfunction.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3094L
- Reported as
- Ayres S2R-T34
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- T34-118
- Airframe hours
- 10,589
- Engine
- Pratt and Whitney PT6A-60A, 1,050 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Farm Air Flying Service Inc
- Registered owner
- Farm Air Flying Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 8, 2009 · 90 hours before
- Departed
- PVT · Robbins, CA
- Destination
- PVT · Robbins, CA
- Airport
- PVT · Robbins Agricultural Airstrip, runway 18, 3,000 × 50 ft, dirt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 53
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 4, 2009
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 14,000 total · 7,500 in this make and model · 14,000 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 80 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.82 inHg
- Observed at
- SMF, 15 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 MB in all.