Midland International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Midland, Texas 79711
Thursday, April 6, 1995 14:16 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING TAKEOFF ROLL, AT A SPEED OF 60 TO 70 MPH, THE AIRPLANE VEERED LEFT AND THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A VASI LIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST DUE TO THE 'PIN CONNECTING THE SCISSOR YOKE ON THE NOSE GEAR' COMING OUT DURING TAKEOFF. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO FLY THE PLANE AFTER IT WAS RETURNED TO RENTAL SERVICE FOLLOWING A LANDING GEAR REPAIR. HOWEVER, AFTER THIS REPAIR, THE PLANE HAD BEEN TEST FLOWN TWICE WITH NO DISCREPANCIES REPORTED. EXAMINATION OF THE NOSE GEAR TORQUE LINKS BY AN FAA INSPECTOR REVEALED SIGNATURES INDICATING THAT THE CONNECTING BOLT WAS INSTALLED WHEN THE LINKS WERE DAMAGED DURING IMPACT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/6/1995
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1416
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City MIDLAND
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 79711
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MIDLAND INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MAF
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2871
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1352 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MAF
Elevation of weather observation facility 2871
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 10000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 14
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 204
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 6 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2045
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:12PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6700V
NTSB Number FTW95LA157
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELLANCA
Aircraft Model 17-30A
Aircraft Series Identifier 17-30A
Aircraft Serial Number 30291
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 2 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 89
Airframe Hours 3440
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MILLER FLYING SERVICE, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 190
Aircraft Owner City PLAINVIEW
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79072
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1416
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PVW
Destination City PLAINVIEW
Destination State TX
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 8302
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --