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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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February 23, 2001 · Schneider Edmund Pty Starduster SA300 · N1173

Chino Valley, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 23, 2001
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Chino Valley, AZ
Aircraft
Schneider Edmund Pty Starduster SA300
Tail Number
N1173
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX01LA104

During takeoff from a road, a vehicle, which had been cleared from the road, reentered the road and the pilot veered right to avoid it, striking a bush on the side of the road and nosing over. On the previous day, the pilot had landed on the road due to a broken throttle linkage. On the morning of the accident, the pilot, airplane owner, and a mechanic returned to repair the linkage. When the repairs were completed, the owner and mechanic cleared the road for takeoff. The investigator's record of telephone conversation with the pilot indicated that just prior to becoming airborne, a car used to clear the road was driven onto the road; the pilot executed the takeoff but had insufficient clearance from the car, veered right, contacted bushes, and the airplane nosed over. In his report of the accident, the pilot stated that the car did not enter the road until the airplane was aligned for takeoff. Since the airplane was tailwheel equipped, he was unable to see the car until during the takeoff roll, when the tail was lifted. During the takeoff roll the engine power diminished. To avoid colliding with the car, the pilot said, he attempted to abort the takeoff and veered off the road. The main wheels entered a depression and the airplane nosed over, just past the car.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and his failure to dissiminate/coordinate the total distance required to successfully operate the airplane.

Full Narrative

On February 23, 2001 at 0845 hours mountain standard time, a Schneider Starduster 300 SA300, N1173, sustained substantial damage when it veered to avoid a truck, struck a bush, and came to rest inverted while taking off from Williams Valley Road, near Chino Valley, Arizona. The airplane was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by a private owner, and flown by an airline transport pilot, who was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which was departing at the time of the accident. The pilot was interviewed by National Transportation Safety Board investigators. According to the investigator's record of telephone call, the pilot stated that, on the previous day, he had landed on the road due to a broken throttle linkage. On the morning of the accident, the pilot, airplane owner, and a mechanic returned to repair the linkage. When the repairs were completed, the owner and mechanic cleared the road for takeoff. During the takeoff one of the vehicles drifted into the road. The pilot realized he would be unable to clear the vehicle and veered right to avoid it. The right wing struck a bush on the side of the road, the airplane nosed over, and came to rest inverted. In his written accident report, form 6120.1/2, the pilot reported that a car was driven onto the road, to block traffic, after the aircraft was aligned for takeoff. Because the airplane was tail wheel equipped, the pilot could not see that the car was on the road. Once the takeoff had started, and the tail raised, the engine power began to diminish. An aborted takeoff was attempted, however, to avoid colliding with the car, the pilot steered the airplane off the road. The main landing gear entered a depression and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that the reason for the power reduction was not determined.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:45 MST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftSchneider Edmund Pty Starduster SA300
Tail NumberN1173
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · E 185 · Reciprocating · 185
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 60 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 25 C
Altimeter29.67 inHg
Observation Time15:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data