Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of directional control, during the takeoff roll, which resulted in an inadvertent swerve, and the pilot's excessive application of brake pressure, which resulted in a nose down condition.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The airplane veered to the left during the first attempt to take off. The pilot stated she attributed this to wind gusts from the west (left). During the second attempt to take off, the airplane veered to the left again and departed the left side of the runway, toward some parked aircraft. The pilot applied the brakes, and the airplane nosed down. The winds were reported to be from 310 degrees at 4 knots.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 6, 1995, at 2135 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Stinson 108-2 airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, nosed down during an aborted takeoff from the Lake Hood Airstrip, Anchorage, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, was departing the Lake Hood Airstrip for a local flight. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane received substantial damage. According to the pilot, as she started her takeoff roll on runway 31, the airplane veered to the left. She applied right rudder and stopped the airplane. She taxied back for a second takeoff on runway 31. During the second takeoff the airplane veered to the left again. She applied right rudder but also had to step on the brakes because the airplane was headed for some parked airplanes. The airplane nosed down as it came to a stop. The pilot stated there were wind gusts blowing across runway 31 from the west (left) during the takeoff roll. The reported winds at the Lake Hood Airstrip were from 310 degrees at 4 knots. -