Pilot Debrief

SMITH AEROSTAR601 near Marietta, PA — 2017-08-19

Final reportERA17LA288
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Date
2017-08-19
Location
Marietta, PA, USA
Airport
N71
Aircraft
SMITH AEROSTAR601
Registration
N7108
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff with a quartering tailwind. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience in the accident airplane make and model.

NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot stated that, during the takeoff roll, the airplane swerved to the right, and he corrected to the left and aborted the takeoff; however, the airplane departed the left side of the runway and collided with an embankment. At the time of the accident, a quartering tailwind was present. The pilot had no previous experience in the accident airplane make and model or in any other multiengine airplane equipped with engines capable of producing 300 horsepower. During a postaccident conversation with a mechanic, the pilot stated that the airplane "got away from him" during the attempted takeoff. Because a postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any evidence of a preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane's flight controls or nosewheel steering system that would have precluded normal operation and the pilot did not have any previous experience operating this make and model of airplane, it is likely that the pilot lost directional control during takeoff with a quartering tailwind.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot should have declined the flight due to lack of experience with the aircraft type.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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