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Pilot Loses Control After Seat Moves During Takeoff Over Runway Rut (N3276A)

Oakland, AL, US

On December 29, 1999, a Cessna 170B (registration N3276A) was involved in an aviation accident near Oakland, AL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to verify that his seat was locked prior to takeoff. The subsequent bounce on takeoff enabled the seat to shift aft thereby reducing the pilot's access to controls leading to the inadvertent loss of control and ground impact with trees. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

During takeoff, an airplane rolled over a rut, bounced, and the pilot's seat moved rearward, preventing him from reaching the flight controls. The airplane veered left and struck trees. The runway had ruts, but the seat locking mechanism was serviceable.

Event Description

According to the pilot, as the airplane accelerated for takeoff, the landing gear rolled over a rut in the runway surface, causing the airplane to bounce. During the bounce, the pilot reported that his seat moved rearward, and he could not reach the flight controls, resulting in a loss of control. The airplane subsequently veered off the left side of the runway and collided with trees.

Runway Condition

An examination of the runway surface revealed that the clay and gravel runway had ruts in the center of the takeoff area. These ruts were present at the location where the airplane's landing gear made contact during the takeoff roll.

Seat Assembly Examination

The airplane seat assembly was examined after the accident. The examination found that both the seat rails and the seat locking pins were in serviceable condition, indicating that the seat movement was not due to mechanical failure of the locking mechanism.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 29 Dec 1999 Cessna 170B accident near Oakland, AL?

During takeoff, an airplane rolled over a rut, bounced, and the pilot's seat moved rearward, preventing him from reaching the flight controls. The airplane veered left and struck trees. The runway had ruts, but the seat locking mechanism was serviceable.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 29 Dec 1999 involved a Cessna 170B, registration N3276A, at Oakland, AL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to verify that his seat was locked prior to takeoff. The subsequent bounce on takeoff enabled the seat to shift aft thereby reducing the pilot's access to controls leading to the inadvertent loss of control and ground impact with trees. Contributing factors were rough and uneven runway surface and…

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X20194. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.