Aerostar PA-60-700P N700HS

Summary

On 7 November 1997 at about 20:45 local time, a Aerostar PA-60-700P registered N700HS was involved in an accident near Portland, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 November 1997 at 20:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Portland, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Portland International (PDX)

Coordinates

45.5091, -122.6897

Aircraft

Aerostar PA-60-700P

Registration

N700HS

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Prineville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA98LA012

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's selection of an improper remedial action for an unanticipated yaw excursion during takeoff roll, resulting in the aircraft becoming airborne with inadequate airspeed and consequent loss of aircraft control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during 'the mid stage of the takeoff roll...I experienced one or two asym[m]etrical surges that caused the plane to yaw to the right.' The pilot stated he corrected these with nosewheel steering (the pilot's operating handbook states not to use nosewheel steering during takeoff). The pilot stated, 'As I approached rotation speed, there was a strong yaw to the right....I believed...the nosewheel [had deflected]...full right....I then pulled back on the yoke to pull the nosewheel off....I became airborne...I heard the stall warning. The plane then veered sharply to the right, going off the runway....' Post-accident examinations of the aircraft's right engine and propeller revealed no evidence of pre-impact engine or propeller mechanical malfunctions. Directional control on the ground is available in the accident aircraft via differential braking, differential power, and rudder, if nosewheel steering is not available. While the pilot reported he had recently flown the accident aircraft with another pilot (not an instructor) to 'review aircraft systems and check my pilot competencies', his last documented flight review was 6 years before the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.