Lakelawn Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Delavan, Wisconsin 53115
Saturday, July 25, 1998 14:35 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot added full power and began his takeoff roll. Within 150 feet of where the airplane began its roll, the airplane 'veered sharply to the left, although full right rudder was applied.' The pilot said that he had no steering control. A witness observed the airplane roll forward normally for about two to three seconds, then the nose started rotating upward. Immediately, the airplane veered sharply left and continued off of the runway and on to the grass. The airplane's engine was at full power until the ground impact occurred. Prior to the accident, when the airplane was being taxied to the runway, another witness flagged down the pilot and informed him that the airplane's left tire 'appeared to be low on air.' The witness offered to assist the pilot with inflating the tire, but the pilot elected to taxi to the runway instead. Examination of the airplane revealed the left main landing gear tire pressure at 22 psi. The right main landing gear tire pressure was 26 psi. The Beech F33A Pilot Operating Handbook states that normal tire pressure for the main landing gear tires should be in a range of 33 to 40 psi.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff roll. Factors contributing to this accident were the pilot's inadequate preflight, his operation of an airplane with a known deficiency, low air pressure on both main tires, the snow fence, and the corn.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/25/1998
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1435
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City DELAVAN
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53115
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LAKELAWN AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID C59
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 270
Airport Elevation 981
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1450 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 265
Weather Observation Facility ID JVL
Elevation of weather observation facility 808
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
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) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 795
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 1
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 504
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 25 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2132
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 16 2001 11:55AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N350NW
NTSB Number CHI98LA276
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 Beech
Aircraft Model F33A
Aircraft Series Identifier F33A
Aircraft Serial Number CE-753
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 Mar 23 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 1991
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NORMAN M. WILTON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3800 N LAKE SHORE DRIVE #3G
Aircraft Owner City CHICAGO
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60613
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 C59
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1435
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code IGQ
Destination City LANSING
Destination State IL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2001 6:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 4423
Runway Width 80
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --