Lincoln Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lincoln, Nebraska 68521
Saturday, March 11, 1989 10:45 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PVT PLT SAID THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL OF THE HOMEBUILT ACFT, THE PLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO DIRECTIONALLY CONTROL THE ACFT, AND IT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND ROLLED OVER. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FRONT SEAT CUSHION, OF THE OPEN COCKPIT TANDEM SEATED ACFT, HAD FALLEN TO THE COCKPIT FLOOR CAUSING A RESTRICTION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S BRAKE PEDALS. THE FRONT COCKPIT HAD A COVER OVER IT MAKING IT INCONVENIENT TO VISUALLY INSPECT IT DURING THE PREFLIGHT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO ADEQUATELY PREFLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT RESULTING IN A FRONT COCKPIT SEAT CUSHION INTERFERING WITH THE RUDDER PEDALS AND BRAKES.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/11/1989
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1045
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City LINCOLN
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 68521
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LINCOLN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LNK
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 1214
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1050 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID LNK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1214
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 184
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 11 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1245
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38503
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:32PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N81GJ
NTSB Number MKC89LA077
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 JENNINGS
Aircraft Model PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER
Aircraft Series Identifier PIETENPOL
Aircraft Serial Number 122068
Certified Max Gross Weight 1350
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 30
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JENNINGS, GERALD R.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 805 W. GODFREY ST.
Aircraft Owner City LINCOLN
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 68521
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 LNK
Departure City LINCOLN
Departure State NE
Departure Country
Departure Time 1044
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 5500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --