Gillespie Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

El Cajon, California 92020
Thursday, November 28, 1996 7:39 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot initiated a takeoff on runway 27L in calm wind conditions. Witnesses reported that the aircraft was in the initial part of the takeoff roll, when it ground looped to the left. During the occurrence, the right wing was damaged. Review of the pilot's flight time revealed that he had very few hours in a conventional gear aircraft.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

failure of the pilot to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground swerve. The pilot's low total time in conventional gear aircraft was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/28/1996
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 739
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City EL CAJON
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92020
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GILLESPIE FIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SEE
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 385
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 740 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID SEE
Elevation of weather observation facility 345
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
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) 1736
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 28 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 850
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:28AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1729D
NTSB Number LAX97LA055
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 170A
Aircraft Series Identifier 170A
Aircraft Serial Number 20172
Certified Max Gross Weight 2100
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WASHINGTON COAST FLYING CLUB
Aircraft Owner Street Address 786 US101
Aircraft Owner City HOQUIAM
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98550
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DENNIS A. TREADWELL
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 8750 VERLANE DRIVE
Operator City SAN DIEGO
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 92119
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 SEE
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code L08
Destination City BORREGO SPRINGS
Destination State CA
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 27L
Runway Length 2737
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --