Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary LAX06CA145

Redlands, CA, USA

Aircraft #1

N3190A

Cessna 170B

Analysis

During the takeoff roll the pilots lost directional control of the airplane and swerved off the runway. The airplane was substantially damaged upon hitting a fence and came to rest in a gully 200 to 300 feet north of the runway. The certified flight instructor (CFI) indicated that he was providing dual instruction to his student, and they lost control of the airplane upon encountering a 90-degee, 10-knot, wind gust. He also reported that during the mishap there was control interference difficulties between himself and the student that made regaining control difficult.

Factual Information

On April 23, 2006, about 1245 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N3190A, veered off the runway and collided with obstructions during takeoff from runway 26 at the Redlands Municipal Airport, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the private pilot receiving instruction, the certified flight instructor (CFI), nor a passenger was injured. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it was originating at the time of the accident. According to the CFI, during the takeoff roll a wind gust was encountered. Control of the airplane was lost. The airplane swerved off the runway, hit a fence, and came to rest in a gully between 200 and 300 feet north of runway 26. The student pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he was receiving tail wheel instruction "when the aircraft became uncontrollable on takeoff." The CFI reported that a contributing factor in the accident was "control interference difficulties" between the pilot and the CFI. The CFI reported that the wind was from 350 degrees, and it was gusting to 10 knots. The CFI indicated that he has about 3,137 total hours of flying experience. The student had about 65 hours of experience.

Probable Cause and Findings

the student's inadequate compensation for the crosswind gust and failure to maintain directional control. Also causal was the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight, and his failure to maintain directional control. A factor was control interference between the two pilots during the initial stages of the loss of control.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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