SALUDA, VA, USA
N23398
CESSNA 150H
THE PILOT COMPLETED THE PREFLIGHT AND PRETAKEOFF CHECKLIST SATISFACTORILY. HE PREPARED FOR A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF BY HOLDING THE BRAKE AND ADDING FULL POWER. HE RELEASED THE BRAKES AND AS THE AIRCRAFT ACCELERTED TO LIFT OFF SPEED 3/4 DOWN THE RUNWAY AND HE WAS ABOUT TO ROTATE AT 65 KNOTS, HE HEARD A LOUD BANG THAT SOUNDED LIKE A BACKFIRE. HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF, PULLED THE POWER OFF AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE RUNWAY ONTO A FIELD WHERE IT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH. FAA EXAMINATION OF THE MUFFLER REVEALED RIGHT SIDE EXHAUST BAFFLE FAILURE.
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF WITH INADEQUATE RUNWAY TO STOP. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE EXHAUST MUFFLER BAFFLE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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