Yucca Valley Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Yucca Valley, California 92284
Friday, January 16, 2009 14:00 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during the landing roll on the asphalt runway, the left rudder pedal separated and he was unable to maintain directional control. Subsequently, the airplane ground-looped and exited the right side of the runway. The fuselage and left wing were structurally damaged. The left rudder pedal was separated at its weld point. No further anomalies were noted with the flight control systems.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of directional control due to a weld joint failure of the left rudder pedal.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/16/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Yucca Valley
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92284
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 240747N
Event Location Longitude 1162424W
Event Location Airport Yucca Valley Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID L22
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 3224
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1356 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 50
Weather Observation Facility ID NXP
Elevation of weather observation facility 2051
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.35
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) 25153
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2009 2:36PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N90086
NTSB Number WPR09CA094
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 JONES RODNEY V
Aircraft Model WITTMAN TA
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 001
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAMS JERRY M
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City GLENWOOD
Aircraft Owner State IA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 51534-1807
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name WILLIAMS JERRY M
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City GLENWOOD
Operator State IA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 51534-1807
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 No
Departure Airport Code HJO
Departure City Hanford
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1220
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code L22
Destination City Yucca Valley
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 4 2009 2:33PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 24
Runway Length 4363
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --