Private Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Garrettsville, Ohio 44231
Tuesady, September 26, 2006 18:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The tailwheel airplane swerved to the left during the initial takeoff roll, impacting a bush and tree before coming to rest. The pilot reported that he was departing from a private grass airstrip at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll the airplane "deviated to the left for unknown reasons." The pilot reported that "rudder inputs were unable to bring the aircraft back onto the grass runway before the left wingtip clipped a bush." The pilot stated that the airplane "continued further left, and the left wings struck a tree." The winds were reported to be calm at the time of the accident. The tailwheel assembly, brake system, and flight controls were examined and no pre-impact anomalies were found.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. The bush and tree were factors to the accident.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/26/2006
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1855
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Garrettsville
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 44231
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 411700N
Event Location Longitude 0810700W
Event Location Airport Private Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1851 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID YNG
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
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) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
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) 20794
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Sep 27 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2006 9:08AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Federal Aviation Administration - Cleveland FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N985BC
NTSB Number CHI06CA272
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 Boeing
Aircraft Model A75N1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 75-6711
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 7270
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Charles Bruce Cairns
Aircraft Owner Street Address 11151 Wheeler Road
Aircraft Owner City Garrettsville
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 44231
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code PVT
Departure City Garrettsville
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1855
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PVT
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 20 2006 3:35PM
User who most recently changed record DINC
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --