Flight CTSW N138CT

Summary

On 13 December 2020 at about 15:45 local time, a Flight CTSW registered N138CT was involved in an accident near Marion, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 December 2020 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Marion, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Shiflet Field (9A9)

Coordinates

35.7203, -82.0141

Aircraft

Flight CTSW

Registration

N138CT

Category

Airplane

Year built

2007

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Frankfort

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA21LA073

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff, resulting in a rejected takeoff and runway excursion.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger were departing for a cross-country flight in calm wind conditions. Shortly after liftoff, at an airspeed of about 46 knots, the airplane suddenly yawed to the right and came back down on the runway. The pilot elected to reject the takeoff. The airplane continued to veer to the right, and the airplane departed the runway and entered an area of soft terrain. The nose landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. Following the accident, the pilot thought that the rudder had malfunctioned. However, examination of the flight controls revealed no evidence of a preaccident malfunction or anomaly. Thus, the pilot likely did not maintain yaw control of the airplane during the takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.