SEWELL WILLIAM K ZODIAC 601
Clarksville, VA — March 29, 2016
Event Information
| Date | March 29, 2016 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA16CA167 |
| Event ID | 20160329X55947 |
| Location | Clarksville, VA |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 36.59389, -78.56084 |
| Airport | LAKE COUNTRY REGIONAL |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | SEWELL WILLIAM K |
| Model | ZODIAC 601 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in the airplane drifting to the left of the runway and impacting trees.
Full Narrative
The pilot reported that during takeoff the airplane began to drift to the left immediately after rotation. The pilot further reported that he applied right aileron, but the drift continued and the airplane's left main landing gear struck a tree within a tree line about 100 feet to the left of the runway. After the impact, the airplane sank further into the trees and came to rest slightly nose high and left wing down.
The fuselage, both wings, and horizontal stabilizer were substantially damaged.
The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.