Date:	Wednesday 4 February 2009
Time:	08:52
Type:	Aero Modifications AMI DC-3-65TP
Owner/operator:	National Test Pilot School
Registration:	N834TP
MSN:	12590
Year of manufacture:	1947
Total airframe hrs:	17277 hours
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65AR
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage:	Substantial, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	Mojave-Kern County Airport, CA (MHV) -   United States of America
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Training
Departure airport:	Mojave-Kern County Airport, CA (MHV/KMHV)
Destination airport:	Mojave-Kern County Airport, CA (MHV/KMHV)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
A Turbo DC-3 aircraft, N834TP, collided with terrain during takeoff at Mojave, California. The certified flight instructor (CFI) and the student pilot were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings from impact forces.
The student pilot was performing the takeoff. During the takeoff roll on runway 30, the airplane began to drift to the right, and the student applied left rudder to correct for the drift. The CFI advanced the right throttle during the ground roll in an attempt to counteract the right yaw. The tail wheel came off the ground about 80 knots, and the airplane swerved to the right. The CFI applied left rudder in an attempt to stop the yaw and drift. As the airplane was about to depart the runway, the pilots did not reduce the throttles or apply brakes as they felt that it would be safer to attempt to get airborne.
The airplane slowed as it departed the runway surface. It collided with a series of berms, which sheared off the left landing gear and left engine. The right landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest in a nose down attitude.
The operator stated that the student pilot inadvertently set the rudder trim to the full right position when he adjusted the rudder pedals during the prestart checks. The rudder trim was in the full right position for the takeoff, and found in the same position upon post accident inspection.
The DC-3 involved was a turbine conversion and highly modified with a belly radar pod and chin FLIR turret. It was formerly operated by the South African Air Force as a maritime patrol aircraft.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The student pilot failed to follow the checklist and set the takeoff trim properly prior to takeoff resulting in a loss of directional control. Contributing to the accident were the certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision and delayed remedial action."

Plane Crashes at Mojave Airport (KERO, 4-2-2009)
NTSB

photo (c) aeroprints.com; Rantoul, KS; 30 April 2013; (CC:by-sa)

photo (c) Alan Radecki; Mojave-Kern County Airport, CA (MHV/); 12 November 2007; (CC:by-sa)

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