NTSB MKC89LA077 — 1989-03-11 · LINCOLN, Nebraska, United States

N81GJ has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (GATES LEAR JET 36A, built 1981), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

N81GJ JENNINGS PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER None

Probable cause & findings

FAILURE OF THE PILOT IN COMMAND TO ADEQUATELY PREFLIGHT THE AIRCRAFT RESULTING IN A FRONT COCKPIT SEAT CUSHION INTERFERING WITH THE RUDDER PEDALS AND BRAKES.

Factual narrative

THE PVT PLT SAID THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL OF THE HOMEBUILT ACFT, THE PLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO DIRECTIONALLY CONTROL THE ACFT, AND IT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND ROLLED OVER. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FRONT SEAT CUSHION, OF THE OPEN COCKPIT TANDEM SEATED ACFT, HAD FALLEN TO THE COCKPIT FLOOR CAUSING A RESTRICTION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S BRAKE PEDALS. THE FRONT COCKPIT HAD A COVER OVER IT MAKING IT INCONVENIENT TO VISUALLY INSPECT IT DURING THE PREFLIGHT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_MKC89LA077.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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