Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Santa Barbara, California 93117
Thursday, January 26, 2012 14:10 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that, after aligning the airplane with the runway centerline and adding full power for takeoff, the airplane accelerated and then began to veer left. The pilot immediately added right rudder to correct for the deviation, but the airplane did not respond to the control input. He then reduced power to abort the takeoff, but, seeing runway signs in his path, he added full power again in an attempt to get airborne to avoid colliding with the signs. After becoming airborne, the airplane impacted a sign with its right main landing gear and right stabilator, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. Neither the pilot nor a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, who examined the airplane after the accident, reported any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot did not maintain directional control during takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/26/2012
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1410
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Santa Barbara
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93117
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 342534N
Event Location Longitude 1195029W
Event Location Airport Santa Barbara Municipal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SBA
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 13
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1455 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID SBA
Elevation of weather observation facility 13
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 --
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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) 29674
NTSB Notification Source FAA AWP Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 21 2012 4:16PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4297S
NTSB Number WPR12CA083
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-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-8390045
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 9 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 82
Airframe Hours 11476
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name UAA INTERNATIONAL INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1925 MCKINLEY AVE STE H
Aircraft Owner City LA VERNE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91750-5800
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Marco A. Perez
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Los Angeles
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 90062
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code SBA
Departure City Santa Barbara
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1405
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code EMT
Destination City El Monte
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 21 2012 4:16PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 6052
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --