Mojave Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mojave, California 93501
Wednesday, February 4, 2009 8:52 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the takeoff roll, the airplane began to drift to the right. Despite the certified flight instructor's and student's attempts, they were unable to stop the yaw and drift. As the airplane was about to depart the runway, the pilots did not reduce the throttles or apply brakes as they felt that it would be safer to attempt to get airborne. After departing the runway surface, the airplane collided with a series of berms, which sheared off the left landing gear and left engine. The right landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest in a nose down attitude. Post accident examination revealed that the student pilot had inadvertently set the rudder trim to the full right position when he adjusted the rudder pedals during the prestart checks. The rudder trim was in the full right position for the takeoff, and found in the same position upon post accident inspection.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The student pilot failed to follow the checklist and set the takeoff trim properly prior to takeoff resulting in a loss of directional control. Contributing to the accident were the certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/4/2009
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 852
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Mojave
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93501
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 350331N
Event Location Longitude 1180902W
Event Location Airport Mojave
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MHV
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 2798
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 850 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID MHV
Elevation of weather observation facility 2798
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 12000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -5
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) 30.15
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) 25298
NTSB Notification Source National Test Pilot School
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2009 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N834TP
NTSB Number WPR09LA108
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 DOUGLAS
Aircraft Model DC-3/65AR
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 12590
Certified Max Gross Weight 29000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 2
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 21 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 17277
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name National Test Pilot School
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1030 Flight Line Bldg 72
Aircraft Owner City Mojave
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 93501
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name National Test Pilot School
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1030 Flight Line Bldg 72
Operator City Mojave
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 93501
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MHV
Departure City Mojave
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 852
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code MHV
Destination City Mojave
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2009 4:47PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 12500
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --