Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary ANC03LA120

Tanana, AK, USA

Aircraft #1

N6767F

Cessna 150

Analysis

The commercial certificated pilot reported he was attempting to takeoff in his airplane from his private grass/turf airstrip. During the takeoff roll, he said the airplane encountered a muddy section of runway and slowed down. He elected to continue the takeoff roll. The airplane became airborne for a short period, settled onto the end of the runway, and then ran off the end of the runway and collided with trees. The airplane received structural damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

Factual Information

On September 6, 2003, about 1400 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Cessna 150 airplane, N6767F, received substantial damage when it overran the runway and collided with trees during takeoff from a remote mining airstrip, about 50 miles south of Tanana, Alaska. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. The Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident, and was en route to Fairbanks, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on September 22, the pilot related that he was taking off to the west from his private grass/turf airstrip. He said the airstrip is approximately 1,400 feet long, and 100 feet wide. While the airplane was accelerating during the takeoff roll, the pilot said the main landing gear wheels encountered a muddy section of the runway, which slowed the airplane. He said the airplane became airborne near the end of the runway, but then settled onto the runway, and ran off the end and into trees. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot said that there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane.

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff after encountering muddy terrain during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a runway overrun and collision with trees. A factor in the accident was the muddy runway.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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