Culver LCA N29396

Summary

On 21 June 1993 at about 22:22 local time, a Culver LCA registered N29396, operated by Chris T. Bevan, was involved in an accident near San Luis Obispo, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 June 1993 at 22:22

Classification

Accident

Location

San Luis Obispo, California, United States

Nearest airport

San Luis Obispo (SBP)

Coordinates

35.2507, -120.6201

Aircraft

Culver LCA

Registration

N29396

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Chris T. Bevan

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX93LA265

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING TAKEOFF. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE IN TAIL WHEEL AIRCRAFT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT SAID HE WAS PICKING UP THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH HIS FATHER IN LAW HAD JUST PURCHASED, AND WAS GOING TO FLY IT TO WASHINGTON STATE. THE PILOT NOTED THAT HE INTENDED TO STAY IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO DO SEVERAL TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS PRIOR TO PROCEEDING ON THE DELIVERY FLIGHT. THE RESPONDING FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE PILOT'S LAST TAIL WHEEL AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCE WAS IN 1985, AND, AT THAT TIME, HIS TOTAL TAIL WHEEL EXPERIENCE WAS 250 HOURS. GROUND WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE AFTER A GROUND ROLL OF ABOUT 600 FEET AND IMMEDIATELY YAWED AND ROLLED TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL ON RUNWAY 29 HE LOOKED DOWN AT THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR, AND, WHEN HE LOOKED UP AGAIN, THE AIRCRAFT HAD LIFTED OFF AND WAS ROLLING TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE COULD NOT CORRECT THE ROLL IN TIME TO PREVENT A NOSE DOWN COLLISION WITH THE GROUND. THE WINDS AT THE TIME WERE REPORTED BY THE CONTROL TOWER AT 300 DEGREES AT 18 KTS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.