Manassas Region Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Manassas, Virginia 20110
Friday, December 13, 2002 18:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot taxied onto the runway, and once cleared for takeoff, he advanced the throttles. He used differential braking to maintain runway alignment until reaching 40 knots of indicated airspeed (KIAS), and then switched to the rudder. Approximately 65 KIAS, the pilot felt a shudder that seemed to come from the wheels, which he initially thought was caused by standing water on the runway. Within a second, he felt a second shudder, and started to have directional control problems. Because the airplane was "...well below rotation speed," he aborted the takeoff. He closed both throttles, and within 2 seconds, the airplane yawed left and departed the runway. On rain-soaked sod, the airplane slid approximately 1,000 feet before coming to a stop. The airplane received minor damage during the accident sequence and substantial damage during recovery. Visibility was 3 miles in rain, and the runway had standing water on it. Examination of the engines and airframe revealed no preimpact failures or malfunctions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot' failure to maintain directional control during an aborted takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 12/13/2002
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Manassas
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 20110
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 384317N
Event Location Longitude 0773056W
Event Location Airport Manassas Region
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HEF
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1855 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID HEF
Elevation of weather observation facility 192
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height 400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 3
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.75
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14652
NTSB Notification Source FAA FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Dec 16 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 7 2004 12:00PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Dulles

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N141AJ
NTSB Number NYC03IA030
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-601P
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 61P-0680-7963320
Certified Max Gross Weight 6500
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 Nov 1 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 3471.6
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Alan M. Jacobson
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Norfolk
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 23507
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code HEF
Departure City Manassas
Departure State VA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PVG
Destination City Norfolk
Destination State VA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? Yes
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 20 2003 10:45AM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 7000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --