Bolton Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Columbus, Ohio 43201
Sunday, March 23, 2003 15:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The certified flight instructor (CFI) was providing flight instruction to the private pilot/owner of the tail-wheeled airplane. The CFI stated that the private pilot began the takeoff roll from the 5,500-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway. The airplane was almost at takeoff speed when it began to veer to the right. The CFI took control of the airplane, and attempted to correct; however, the airplane departed the right side of the runway, and ground-looped. The left main landing gear collapsed and the left wing struck the ground. Examination of the runway revealed a tire mark began about 350 feet from the beginning of the runway. A second parallel tire mark began to the left of the first tire mark, about 675 feet from the beginning of the runway, and both tire marks continued to the accident site. The airplane came to rest in a grass area, approximately 1,132 feet from the beginning of the runway. Both pilots were unsure if the private pilot had his feet positioned on the rudder pedals in such a way that he inadvertently applied brakes during the takeoff. Winds at the time of the accident were calm.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot under instruction's failure to maintain directional control, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/23/2003
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1515
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Columbus
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 43201
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 395404N
Event Location Longitude 0830812W
Event Location Airport Bolton Field Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TZR
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 905
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1525 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID TZN
Elevation of weather observation facility 905
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4300
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.93
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14757
NTSB Notification Source FAA GLROC
NTSB Notification Date Mar 23 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1710
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 5 2004 4:26PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Columbus

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2968Z
NTSB Number NYC03LA071
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 Piper
Aircraft Model PA-22-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 22-6943
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 10 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 2618
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Terry T. Kuebler
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Gahanna
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 43230
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code TZR
Departure City Columbus
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1515
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code AND
Destination City ANDERSON
Destination State SC
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 10 2003 11:26AM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22
Runway Length 5500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --