Klamath Falls Int. Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601
Sunday, April 2, 1995 14:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT, DURING TAKEOFF IN A PIPER PA-22 WHICH HAD BEEN CONVERTED TO TAILWHEEL CONFIGURATION, HE WAS HOLDING THE YOKE ALL THE WAY BACK WHILE ADDING POWER. AS THE AIRPLANE'S SPEED INCREASED, THE PILOT MOVED THE YOKE FORWARD TO RAISE THE TAIL. BEFORE THE TAIL ROSE, THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED TO THE LEFT ON THE RUNWAY, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT TOLD AN FAA INSPECTOR THAT HE HAD APPLIED FULL RUDDER IN AN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT THE GROUND LOOP.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF, RESULTING IN A GROUND LOOP.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/2/1995
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City KLAMATH FALLS
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97601
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 KLAMATH FALLS INT.
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LMT
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 4100
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1455 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID LMT
Elevation of weather observation facility 4100
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 8
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 549
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 2 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1605
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:13PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8276C
NTSB Number SEA95LA075
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-22
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22
Aircraft Serial Number 22-2352
Certified Max Gross Weight 1950
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 4042
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name VERSTERATE, DAVID W
Aircraft Owner Street Address 32821 23RD AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City FEDERAL WAY
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98201
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 1445
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code S50
Destination City AUBURN
Destination State WA
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 14
Runway Length 10301
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --