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CEN13CA499

2013-08-18 · Wheeling, Illinois, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport KPWK

Current FAA registration · N779RB

Make / Model
BEECH V35
Year of manufacture
1966 · 47 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES (285 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19660720
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AA8BEF

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s loss of control due to the passenger’s inadvertent application of left rudder during the takeoff roll.

Factual narrative

The pilot and two passengers planned on a local flight. The beginning of the takeoff roll was normal, with light winds down the runway. According to the pilot, when the airplane reached about 60-65 knots, the right seat passenger inadvertently pushed on the left rudder pedal. The pilot was unable to stop the turn; the airplane departed the runway surface and proceeded down a grass embankment. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the outboard section of the left wing and aileron. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot and two passengers planned on a local flight. The beginning of the takeoff roll was normal, with light wind down the runway. According to the pilot, when the airplane reached about 60-65 knots, the right seat passenger inadvertently pushed on the left rudder pedal. The pilot was unable to stop the turn; the airplane departed the runway surface and proceeded down a grass embankment. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the outboard section of the left wing and aileron. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-(general)-(general)-Passenger - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2013_CEN13CA499.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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Related research

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