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Atlas / NTSB / GAA18CA183

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event GAA18CA183

2018-03-27 Fullerton, California, United States Airport · FUL None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N78244

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

GLOBE GC-1B

Year of manufacture

1947 · 71 years old at event

Engine

CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER (145 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19611122

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S AA9AF5

Registrant of record

SCHICK JOLEEN G

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll resulting impact with PAPI lighting.

Factual narrative

The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the takeoff roll, he slowly advanced the throttle and applied full aft yoke, along with right rudder pedal application. The airplane accelerated, and he believed that he had overcorrected with right rudder because the airplane veered to the right. He released the right rudder pressure and simultaneously the tail lifted off the ground. Immediately the airplane veered to the left and exited the runway, and subsequently the right wing impacted a precision approach path indicator (PAPI) light. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the takeoff roll, he slowly advanced the throttle and applied full aft yoke, along with right rudder pedal application. The airplane accelerated, and he believed that he had overcorrected with right rudder because the airplane veered to the right. He released the right rudder pressure, and simultaneously the tail lifted off the ground. Immediately the airplane veered to the left and exited the runway, and subsequently the right wing impacted a precision approach path indicator (PAPI) light. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Runway/taxi/approach light-Contributed to outcome - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA18CA183.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.