# NTSB WPR20LA111: Piper PA 30, N7155Y, Eagle Creek, OR, March 19, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 18, 2020, 17:00 local (Mar 19, 2020, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Eagle Creek, OR
- Coordinates: 45.352779, -122.340835 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3528&lon=-122.3408&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101094
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20LA111
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101094/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101094
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA111

## Probable cause

The pilot's loss of airplane control during takeoff due to his left shoe’s interference with the rudder pedal.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: yaw control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 149 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062024/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-30, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7103002), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he positioned the airplane just left of the centerline and held the brakes for a short-field takeoff. After adding full power, he released the brakes and directed the airplane toward the center of the runway. Once the airplane was centered, he attempted to realign the nose of the airplane with the runway; however, the airplane kept turning left. At the same time, the airplane reached 80 knots and lifted off the runway. The pilot attempted to add right rudder, but it did not move because his left shoe was stuck between the rudder pedals. The airplane continued to turn left, so he reduced power on the right engine in attempt to straighten the airplane. He freed his foot from the rudder pedal, but the airplane was headed directly toward a large tree along the left side of the runway. He pulled back on the yoke and attempted to climb, but the airplane struck several trees and a postimpact fire ensued. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

On March 18, 2020, about 1700 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-30 airplane, N7155Y, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Estacada, Oregon. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he had just finished minor maintenance on the airplane. He conducted a thorough run-up with no anomalies and proceeded to the runway. He positioned the airplane just left of the centerline and held the brakes for a short-field takeoff. After adding full power, he released the brakes and directed the airplane toward the center of the runway. Once the airplane was centered, he attempted to realign the nose of the airplane with the runway; however, the airplane kept turning left. At the same time, the airplane reached 80 knots and lifted off the runway. The pilot attempted to add right rudder, but the airplane would not turn; he noted that his left shoe was stuck between the rudder pedals. The airplane continued to turn left, so he reduced power on the right engine in attempt to straighten the airplane. By the time his foot was freed from the rudder pedal, the airplane was headed directly towards a large tree along the left side of the runway. He pulled back on the yoke and attempted to climb, but the airplane struck several trees and a postimpact fire ensued. The pilot reported there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Security cameras captured the accident airplane taking off and impacting trees. The video of the accident was consistent with the pilot’s description of the accident flight. On scene examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the debris path was about 150 feet long. The airplane was heavily fragmented, and several portions exhibited thermal damage. The first identified point of impact was a tree located about 300 southwest of the runway. The next pieces of debris were the left wingtip, outboard left wing, and outboard right wing. Continuing along the debris path was the left engine, which came to rest against trees and a post impact fire ensued. The main wreckage was the last major piece of debris; it included the cabin, right inboard wing and right engine, and the empennage. The main wreckage exhibited extensive thermal damage from a postimpact fire.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7155Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7155Y), registered now, S/N 30-173, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA 30 (No Series)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-1733725
- Year built: 1963
- Airframe hours: 3052
- Engines: Lycoming IO-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 2019, 100 hours before
- Departed: OR65, Eagle Creek, OR
- Destination: OR65, Eagle Creek, OR
- Airport: OR65, Eagle Nest Ranch Airport, runway 30, 2,500 × 80 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 83; injuries: serious; commercial, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 25, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 25,000 total, 245 in this make and model, 12,500 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observed at: TTD, 12 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 20200318004009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200318004009A), Mar 18, 2020: Piper PA-30, Eagle Creek, OR, Destroyed. From neighbors security camera video it appears that as the aircraft rotated it was at the very left edge of the grass runway. It immediately rolled right then…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 15, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101094. 294 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9958191&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Done%202_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Witness statements (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 178 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9322729&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witnesses%20Combined-Rel.pdf
- Record of converstation - federal aviation administration regarding on scene (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 9.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9916231&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20FAA%20On%20scene-Rel.pdf
- On scene photos - courtesy of local law enforcement (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9322258&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=On%20Scene%20Photos%20LEO-Rel.pdf
- Video of accident (1) (item 5, MP4, 55.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9314522&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=ch02-20200318-163841-164037-101000000000-Rel.mp4
- Video of accident (2) (item 6, MP4, 138 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9314674&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=ch03-20200318-163547-164031-101000000000-Rel.mp4
- Video of accident (3) (item 7, MP4, 83.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9315344&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=ch06-20200318-163702-164038-101000000000-Rel.mp4

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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