Arlington Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Arlington, Washington 98223
Monday, October 23, 2000 15:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that as he started the takeoff roll, with full right rudder to compensate for engine torque, the aircraft started drifting right. He reported he then 'slacked off on the right rudder, and the plane started to drift off to the left.' He stated he 'tried to correct to the center line, but nothing seemed to happen.' He stated he then recalled a strong swerve to the right and another back to the left. He reported that as the aircraft 'was reaching near takeoff speed', the aircraft was running off the left side of the runway, and that 'From the time the oscillations began until I went off the runway, I didn't have time or presence of mind to reduce power.' The aircraft ran off the runway, hitting a runway light and a taxiway identification light. The aircraft's nose gear collapsed in the collision with the taxiway sign, and the aircraft subsequently traveled about 300 feet on its nose before coming to a stop. The pilot characterized the accident aircraft as 'more difficult than most to control during taxi and takeoff', stating that 'This particular Bonanza always has had a slight bit of free play in the nose wheel steering' (although it was within specifications on the aircraft's last annual inspection.)

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff upon experiencing directional control difficulties. Factors included the pilot's failure or inability to maintain directional control, and a taxiway sign.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/23/2000
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1515
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City ARLINGTON
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98223
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport ARLINGTON MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AWO
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 137
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
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) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 13630
NTSB Notification Source Pilot
NTSB Notification Date Oct 23 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1640
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 1 2003 9:44AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1255Z
NTSB Number SEA01LA007
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 N35
Aircraft Series Identifier N35
Aircraft Serial Number D-6717
Certified Max Gross Weight 3125
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 5 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 82
Airframe Hours 2983
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RENTON FLYERS INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7425 114TH AVE. S.E.
Aircraft Owner City NEWCASTLE
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98056
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOHN K. WIMPRESS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 10435 76TH AVE. S.
Operator City SEATTLE
Operator State WA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 98178
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 AWO
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1515
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RNT
Destination City RENTON
Destination State WA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 2 2001 4:09AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 5333
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --