N18AW

On February 27, 2001, at 1450 hours Pacific standard time, an experimental Ascher YAK 11, N18AW, was substantially damaged when the aircraft veered off the runway and impacted a berm during takeoff at Eagle's Nest private airport, Ione, California. The airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The personal flight was operated by the pilot/owner under 14 CFR Part 91, and was destined for Santa Rosa, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, witnesses reported that, during takeoff on runway 1 (paved, 4,000 feet long x 100 feet wide), the aircraft drifted to the right-hand edge of the runway and then continued off the runway until it struck a berm at the midfield taxiway. Impact with the berm damaged the landing gear and deflected the aircraft to the left and into the air where it traveled back across the runway (airborne). The airplane came to rest in the dirt on the left side of the runway about 3,000 feet from the start of the takeoff roll.

The single-seat aircraft, modified for air racing, was assembled from U.S. and Russian aircraft components. The airframe was a Russian-built Yakolev YAK 11, and the engine a U.S.-built Pratt & Whitney R-1830. The pilot acquired the aircraft about 1 month before the accident and this was his first takeoff in it. The surface wind at Mather Field, 16 miles northwest of the accident site, was reported from 320 degrees at 16 knots with gusts to 22 knots.