Accident Overview
On March 18, 2020, about 1700 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-30 airplane, registration N7155Y, was destroyed in an accident near Estacada, Oregon. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that he had just completed minor maintenance on the airplane. He performed a thorough run-up with no anomalies and proceeded to the runway. For a short-field takeoff, he positioned the airplane just left of the runway centerline and held the brakes. After adding full power, he released the brakes and directed the airplane toward the center of the runway. Once centered, he attempted to realign the nose with the runway, but the airplane kept turning left. At that moment, the airplane reached 80 knots and lifted off. The pilot tried to add right rudder, but the airplane would not turn; he realized his left shoe was stuck between the rudder pedals.
Sequence of Events
The airplane continued turning left, so the pilot reduced power on the right engine in an attempt to straighten it. By the time his foot was freed from the rudder pedal, the airplane was heading directly toward a large tree on the left side of the runway. He pulled back on the yoke to climb, but the airplane struck several trees, and a post-impact fire ensued. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Video Evidence
Security cameras captured the accident airplane taking off and impacting trees. The video was consistent with the pilot's description of the flight.
On-Scene Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the site. The debris path was about 150 feet long. The airplane was heavily fragmented, and several parts exhibited thermal damage. The first identified point of impact was a tree located about 300 feet southwest of the runway. The next pieces of debris were the left wingtip, outboard left wing, and outboard right wing. Continuing along the debris path was the left engine, which came to rest against trees, and a post-impact fire occurred. The main wreckage, including the cabin, right inboard wing, right engine, and empennage, showed extensive thermal damage from the post-impact fire.