Skov-Papworth Q2 N2103

Summary

On 16 February 1995 at about 23:05 local time, a Skov-Papworth Q2 registered N2103 was involved in an accident near Hollister, 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

16 February 1995 at 23:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Hollister, California, United States

Nearest airport

Hollister Municipal (3O7)

Coordinates

36.8902, -121.2393

Aircraft

Skov-Papworth Q2

Registration

N2103

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX95LA115

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the takeoff ground roll. The pilot's lack of recent experience is a factor in the accident.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL AS IT VEERED SEVERAL TIMES FROM THE CENTERLINE. TWELVE HUNDRED FEET INTO THE GROUND ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED LEFT AND STRUCK A RUNWAY SIGN. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF AND EVENTUALLY BECAME AIRBORNE. HE THEN RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND GROUND LOOPED DURING THE LANDING. THE AIRPORT MANAGER STATED THAT NINE DAYS BEFORE, THE PILOT HAD GROUND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRCRAFT ON THREE SEPARATE TAKEOFF ATTEMPTS. THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED OFF THE RUNWAY ON THE FIRST TWO ATTEMPTS. ON THE THIRD TRY, THE PILOT VEERED LEFT OFF THE RUNWAY AND ENTERED A DIRT MEDIAN AREA. THE PILOT PULLED THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE GROUND IN A LEFT, CLIMBING TURN AND NARROWLY MISSED HITTING A HANGAR ON THE AIRPORT. THE PILOT SAID HE JUST BOUGHT THE AIRCRAFT AND WAS TRYING TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE CONTROL CHARACTERISTICS. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRCRAFT HAS AN EXTREMELY SMALL RUDDER AREA AND WAS 'VERY SQUIRRELLY' ON THE GROUND. THE PILOT'S MOST RECENT MEDICAL WAS ISSUED ONE MONTH AGO. THE LAST MEDICAL CERTIFICATE OF RECORD PRIOR TO THAT WAS ISSUED IN 1977. AT THE TIME OF THE 1977 MEDICAL, THE PILOT REPORTED A TOTAL TIME OF 150 HOURS.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.