Pierce Co-Thun Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Puyallup, Washington 98375
Saturday, February 2, 2002 10:33 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the engines had full power before rotation, and that the takeoff roll was normal until rotation. Right after the aircraft lifted off, the left wing dropped and he felt a swerve to the left, and the aircraft's nose pitched up. The pilot pushed on the control yoke and attempted to counteract the roll motion with opposite aileron. The aircraft continued to the left and collided with trees approximately 1,250 feet from the departure end of the runway and about 100 yards east of the runway edge. Post accident inspection of the flight controls found control continuity from all flight control surfaces to the cockpit controls. The left engine was inspected and partially torn down. During the engine inspection, there was no evidence found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff. Trees were a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/2/2002
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1033
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Puyallup
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98375
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 470624N
Event Location Longitude 1221723W
Event Location Airport Pierce Co-Thun Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1S0
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 538
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 955 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 245
Weather Observation Facility ID TCM
Elevation of weather observation facility 323
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 5000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.16
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13724
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date Feb 2 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1112
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 23 2003 8:35AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Seattle (Renton), WA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N520SE
NTSB Number SEA02FA036
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Aero Commander
Aircraft Model 520
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 520-25
Certified Max Gross Weight 5500
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 29 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 3477
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Robert M. Kosola
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Sumner
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98390
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 1S0
Departure City Puyallup
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1033
Departure Time Zone PST
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? Yes
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 23 2003 5:54PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 3650
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --