- Date
- November 14, 2014, 11:38 local (19:38 UTC)
- Place
- San Diego, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2563FChampion 7ECA
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 22, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20141114022659A
- Case key
- 90387
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 of the airplane during takeoff roll.
Findings · 2
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
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll in a tailwheel equipped airplane, he inadvertently actuated the left brake when his left foot became entangled within the rudder pedal and control cable. The pilot stated that he then lost control of the airplane and subsequently groundlooped, which resulted in structural damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll in a tailwheel equipped airplane, he inadvertently actuated the left brake when his left foot became entangled within the rudder pedal and control cable. The pilot stated that he then lost control of the airplane and subsequently groundlooped, which resulted in structural damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2563F
- Reported as
- Champion 7ECA (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 137
- Built
- 1966
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed
- MYF · San Diego, CA
- Destination
- Eloy, AZ
- Airport
- MYF · Montgomery Field, runway 28R, 4,577 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 6,800 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,600 ft broken
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.01 inHg
- Observed at
- KMYF
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 7, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 54 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2563F · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.