Summary
On August 24, 1999, a Embraer ERJ-135 (PTZJA) was involved in an incident near Moses Lake, WA. All 3 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained minor damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: Minimum aircraft control exceeded during takeoff test flight, which resulted in dragging a wing on the runway surface.
On August 24, 1999, at 1110 Pacific daylight time, an Embraer ERJ-135, PTZJA, registered to and operated by Embraer as a 14 CFR Part 91 test flight, dragged a wing tip on the runway and damaged runway lights during a minimum unstick speed flight test at the Grant County Airport, Moses Lake, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane received minor damage and the two airline transport pilots and flight engineer, were not injured.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that the test maneuver was a minimum unstick speed determination.
This incident is documented in NTSB report SEA99IA148. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft PTZJA.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
Minimum aircraft control exceeded during takeoff test flight, which resulted in dragging a wing on the runway surface.
Aircraft Information
Analysis
On August 24, 1999, at 1110 Pacific daylight time, an Embraer ERJ-135, PTZJA, registered to and operated by Embraer as a 14 CFR Part 91 test flight, dragged a wing tip on the runway and damaged runway lights during a minimum unstick speed flight test at the Grant County Airport, Moses Lake, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane received minor damage and the two airline transport pilots and flight engineer, were not injured.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that the test maneuver was a minimum unstick speed determination. The pilot stated that during the eighth takeoff the aircraft lifted off to about five feet and, just prior to achieving aileron effectiveness, the aircraft rolled to the left. The left wing dropped and contacted the runway surface, resulting in minor damage to the wingtip and outboard trailing edge of the aileron. The pilot continued the takeoff and returned for landing without further incident.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA99IA148