Hagerstown Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hagerstown, Maryland 21742
Tuesady, May 30, 2006 11:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of a commercial sightseeing flight taxied to runway 27, and since the wind was reported as calm, used no crosswind correction for takeoff. During the takeoff roll the airplane was "tracking nicely," however, it took increasing right rudder input to keep the airplane straight. The pilot "ran out of right rudder" and the airplane turned left. Since it felt like the airplane was about to become airborne, the pilot tried to lift off, without result. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, and was substantially damaged. Review of data from an onboard video recorder revealed, images of the windsock, with its small end pointing towards the ground, and the airplane ground looping. No preimpact malfunctions of the rudder or tailwheel steering control systems were discovered.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/30/2006
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Hagerstown
Event State MARYLAND
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 21742
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 394229N
Event Location Longitude 0774346W
Event Location Airport Hagerstown Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HGR
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 704
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID HGR
Elevation of weather observation facility 704
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.12
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21821
NTSB Notification Source BWI FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Jun 1 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 25 2007 12:22PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Baltimore, MD

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N369AS
NTSB Number NYC06LA134
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 Classic Aircraft Corp.
Aircraft Model Waco YMF
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight 2950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18
Airframe Hours 518
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name David J. Humphreys
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Shepherdstown
Aircraft Owner State WV
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 25443
Operator is an individual? Yes
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code HGR
Departure City Hagerstown
Departure State MD
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1100
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code HGR
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 22 2007 6:51PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 5461
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight Yes
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --