# NTSB WPR09LA108: Douglas DC-3/65AR, N834TP, Mojave, CA, February 4, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 4, 2009, 08:52 local (16:52 UTC) - Place: Mojave, CA - Coordinates: 35.058612, -118.150558 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0586&lon=-118.1506&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73314 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73314/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA108 ## Probable cause The student pilot failed to follow the checklist and set the takeoff trim properly prior to takeoff resulting in a loss of directional control. Contributing to the accident were the certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: rudder tab control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022721): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Douglas DC3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022721/cases.md?model=3021401), [All aircraft, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022721/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Douglas DC3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=3021401), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Douglas DC3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=3021401), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Douglas DC3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=3021401), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Douglas DC3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=3021401), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Douglas DC3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md?model=3021401), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Douglas DC3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=3021401), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Douglas DC3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=3021401), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Douglas DC3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=3021401), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Douglas DC3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=3021401), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the takeoff roll, the airplane began to drift to the right. Despite the certified flight instructor's and student's attempts, they were unable to stop the yaw and drift. As the airplane was about to depart the runway, the pilots did not reduce the throttles or apply brakes as they felt that it would be safer to attempt to get airborne. After departing the runway surface, the airplane collided with a series of berms, which sheared off the left landing gear and left engine. The right landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest in a nose down attitude. Post accident examination revealed that the student pilot had inadvertently set the rudder trim to the full right position when he adjusted the rudder pedals during the prestart checks. The rudder trim was in the full right position for the takeoff, and found in the same position upon post accident inspection. ## Factual narrative On February 4, 2009, about 0852 Pacific standard time, a Douglas DC-3/65AR, N834TP, collided with terrain during takeoff at Mojave, California. The National Test Pilot School was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the student pilot were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings from impact forces. The local instructional flight was departing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The operator reported that the student pilot was performing the takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the airplane began to drift to the right, and the student applied left rudder to correct for the drift. The CFI advanced the right throttle during the ground roll in an attempt to counteract the right yaw. The tail wheel came off the ground about 80 knots, and the airplane swerved to the right. The CFI applied left rudder in an attempt to stop the yaw and drift. As the airplane was about to depart the runway, the pilots did not reduce the throttles or apply brakes as they felt that it would be safer to attempt to get airborne. The airplane slowed as it departed the runway surface. It collided with a series of berms, which sheared off the left landing gear and left engine. The right landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest in a nose down attitude. The operator stated that the student pilot inadvertently set the rudder trim to the full right position when he adjusted the rudder pedals during the prestart checks. The rudder trim was in the full right position for the takeoff, and found in the same position upon post accident inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N834TP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N834TP-2009-04-13), registration cancelled 2009-04-13, S/N 12590, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-3/65AR - Registry model: [Douglas DC3](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc3) (registry code 3021401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-65AR](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6-65ar) (registry code 52107, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12590 - Airframe hours: 17277 - Engines: Pratt&Whitney PT6-65AR 1300 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt&Whitney PT6A-65AR 1300 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: National Test Pilot School - Registered owner: National Test Pilot School - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 21, 2009, 2 hours before - Departed: MHV, Mojave, CA - Destination: MHV, Mojave, CA - Airport: MHV, Mojave, runway 30, 12,500 × 200 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 73; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 13, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 18,000 total, 1,326 in this make and model, 16,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 33; injuries: none; foreign; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,100 total, 900 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: MHV ## 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 20090204001229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090204001229A), Feb 4, 2009: Doug DC3, Mojave, CA, Substantial damage. On February 4, 2009, about 0850 pacific standard time, a Douglas DC-3, N834TP, veered off the runway and collided with terrain during takeoff at Mojave,… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.