Madera Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Madera, California 93638
Wednesday, July 2, 1997 16:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The student pilot reported looking at the windsock and noted that the winds were straight down the runway, and the previous takeoffs and landings had been very smooth. He stated that the aircraft was in the initial climb when he felt a sinking sensation and the airplane began drifting off the right side of the runway. Attempts to correct the drift were unsuccessful and he elected to abort the takeoff. Following touchdown the aircraft veered off the right side of the runway, across a dirt area, and collided with a dirt berm.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the student pilot's failure to maintain runway alignment during takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/2/1997
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City MADERA
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93638
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MADERA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MAE
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 253
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1500 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID FAT
Elevation of weather observation facility 333
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 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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 786
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 3 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1057
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:25PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N64954
NTSB Number LAX97LA233
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 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 15281498
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 12 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 95
Airframe Hours 5143
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KEITH A. RAHN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 557 E. EL PASO APT. #101
Aircraft Owner City FRESNO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93720
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name MAJESTIC SKIES AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FAT
Departure City FRESNO
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1530
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code MAE
Destination City
Destination State
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 30
Runway Length 4544
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --