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Champion groundloops after pilot’s foot gets tangled

By NTSB · November 9, 2016 ·

The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll in a Champion 7ECA at an airport in San Diego, he inadvertently actuated the left brake when his left foot became entangled within the rudder pedal and control cable.

He then lost control of the plane and subsequently groundlooped, which resulted in structural damage to the fuselage.

The NTSB determined the probable cause as the pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff roll.

NTSB Identification: WPR15CA041

This November 2014 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

About NTSB

The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in the other modes of transportation, including railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. It determines the probable causes of accidents and issues safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences.

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Comments

  1. Dave says

    November 10, 2016 at 7:16 am

    First item on my checklist. Make sure everything is neat and tidy. If you leave junk around I guarantee you that someday something like this will happen to you. Ask me how I know. It’s a tough lesson to learn but everything has its place in the cockpit including you.

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