Skip to content

GAA18CA290

2018-05-19 · Vashon, Washington, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 2S1

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll due to his right foot inadvertently applying pressure to both rudder pedals.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, his right foot inadvertently applied pressure to the right and left rudder pedals during the takeoff roll at night. The airplane exited the left side of the runway and the left wing struck a tree. The airplane ground-looped to the left and the right wing tip struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, the elevator and the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, his right foot inadvertently applied pressure to both rudder pedals during the takeoff roll. The airplane exited the left side of the runway, and the left wing struck a tree. The airplane ground looped to the left, and the right wingtip struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, elevator, and rudder. 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

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Flight control system-Rudder control system-Unintentional use/operation - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA18CA290.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Search this event elsewhere

External sources are reported, not agency: signal that something happened, not fact about what happened.