Douglas DC-3/65AR accident near Mojave, California, February 4, 2009
On February 4, 2009 at about 4:52 pm local time, a Douglas DC-3/65AR, registered N834TP, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Mojave, California (Mojave airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 4, 2009 · about 4:52 pm local time
- Place
- Mojave, California · Mojave · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC-3/65AR · all DC-3/65ARs on the register
- Registration
- N834TP · no longer on the register · serial 12590
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff roll, the airplane began to drift to the right. Despite the certified flight instructor's and student's attempts, they were unable 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. After departing the runway surface, the airplane 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. Post accident examination revealed that the student pilot had 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 complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Rudder tab control system › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Student pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › (general) › Student pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 18,000 hours in all; 1,326 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 16,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 13, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: foreign licence
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 17 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,277 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 21, 2009; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 29,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt&Whitney PT6A-65AR (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt&Whitney PT6-65AR (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MHV Mojave CA at 3:52 pm
- Destination: MHV Mojave CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 12,500 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from MHV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.