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GAA16CA146

2016-03-11 · Brighton, Colorado, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport CO12

Current FAA registration · N9290H

Make / Model
BEECH D17S
Year of manufacture
1944 · 72 years old at event
Engine
P&W R-985 SERIES (450 hp)
Seats / Engines
5 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19560402
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S ACE1F9

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain the runway course during takeoff, resulting in the airplane drifting to the left and impacting a fence. A contributing factor to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention during the takeoff.

Factual narrative

The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped biplane reported that shortly after the biplane lifted off the runway during takeoff, he diverted his attention and reached for the fuel selector which was located on the lower right wall of the cockpit. He further reported that the biplane drifted to the left of the runway and impacted a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the upper and lower right wings, and the fuselage. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped biplane reported that shortly after the biplane lifted off the runway during takeoff, he diverted his attention and reached for the fuel selector which was located on the lower right wall of the cockpit. He further reported that the biplane drifted to the left of the runway and impacted a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the upper and lower right wings, and the fuselage. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Heading/course-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • F Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Attention-Pilot - F

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2016_GAA16CA146.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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