N9716A

On July 7, 2007, about 1004 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 170, N9716A, owned and operated by the pilot, nosed over after veering off runway 34 at the Shady Acres Airport, Spanaway, Washington. The airplane was substantially damaged. The private pilot and one of the two passengers received minor injuries. The second passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that nothing unusual was observed with his airplane during the preflight inspection. All systems appeared to be functioning normally during the engine run up. The pilot stated that he set the trim for takeoff, proceeded onto runway 34, added full engine power, and the airplane accelerated normally. When the airplane was about 1/3 of the way down the runway at the location where he expected to lift off the ground, the airplane was still on the runway. Therefore, he aborted the takeoff. The pilot stated that he retarded the throttle, applied brakes, and lost directional control of the airplane.

The pilot additionally informed the Safety Board investigator that he erred by not maintaining directional control of his conventional gear airplane while decelerating. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway and entered a grassy area.

The airport's runway is 1,800 feet long and 20 feet wide.