NTSB CAROL · Event
Event SEA88LA049
Aircraft involved
Factual narrative
THE NON-MULTIENGINE RATED PILOT (LEFT SEAT) EXECUTED A TAKEOFF DURING WHICH THE AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED A SLIGHT RIGHT DRIFT. THE PILOT THEN ATTEMPTED TO UTILIZE NOSE WHEEL STEERING TO CORRECT AND A HARD LEFT SWERVE ENSUED RESULTING IN A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL FOLLOWED BY THE AIRCRAFT'S DEPARTING THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT HAD BEEN LED TO BELIEVE BY THE ACCOMPANYING FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (RIGHT SEAT) THAT THE USE OF NOSEWHEEL STEERING WAS ACCEPTABLE DURING TAKEOFF. THE AIRCRAFT OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THAT 'NOSEWHEEL STEERING IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR TAKEOFF SINCE THERE IS A TENDENCY TO OVERSTEER THE TAKEOFF RUN'. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1988_SEA88LA049.txt.
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