Event LAX98LA078

Factual narrative

On January 27, 1998, at 1230 hours Pacific standard time, a Bellanca 8KCAB, N7921S, veered off runway 16R on a midfield takeoff and struck several parked aircraft at the Van Nuys, California, airport. The aircraft, on lease back to AV-8, a fixed based operator at the airport, sustained substantial damage. The student pilot/owner was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the local instructional flight and no flight plan was filed. Winds reported at the time of the accident were 090 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot reported that he had been given permission to taxi to runway 16R via taxiway 10G and cleared for takeoff. The pilot stated that on the takeoff roll everything was normal. The tail wheel came off the ground and the main landing gear started to depart the ground. He reported that the aircraft pulled hard to the left; he countered with full right rudder, but the aircraft continued to pull to the left. The aircraft departed the runway, crossed a grass area and a taxiway, and continued to the north ramp. The pilot stated that he was unable to stop the aircraft from impacting a Beech and a Cessna aircraft. The aircraft was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector from the Van Nuys Flight Standards District Office. No mechanical difficulties were noted with the brakes, and flight control continuity was established on scene. While on the takeoff roll the aircraft pulled hard to the left and the pilot counteracted with full right rudder. The aircraft departed the runway, crossed a grass area and a taxiway, and continued to a ramp area. The pilot was unable to stop the accident aircraft from impacting two parked aircraft. Winds at the time were from 090 degrees at 7 knots. The aircraft was examined on-scene and no mechanical difficulties were noted with the brakes. Flight control continuity was established on scene. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12