20041001025409I

(-23) Accident occurred on 10/01/04. This office was notified on 10/05/04 by the airport manager asking if the aircraft could be released and moved from its position. See attached sheet for additional information. The pilot was notified on 10/06/2004 to send in a detailed statement within 10 days to this office. Attachment: incident occurred on 10/01/04 on or about 14:30 hours in bellfontaine, Ohio. This office was notified on 10/05/04 by the Bellefontaine airport manager asking if the aircraft could be released and moved from its position. The aircraft had run off the taxiway southeast of runway 25 into a ditch area. An airport employee stated that the aircraft had veered off from the taxiway and landed into the ditch area. The pilot was not available for a statement at the time of investigating the aircraft incident site. Pictures were taken of the aircraft and the area where the aircraft exited the taxiway. The pilot was contacted by phone on 10/06/04 at 14:30 and gave a statement over the phone. The pilot was stated that he thought he called this office after operating hours and left a message concerning the incident. The pilot stated that he had left the airport that day and upon taxiing to runway 25 he realized he did not have his cell phone. He called the FBO and taxied over toward runway 25 and shut down the aircraft to look under the seats to look for the cell phone. He did not find the cell phone so he restarted the engine and contacted the FBO again on the radio, they mentioned to him that they did have the cell phone in the FBO. The pilot turned the aircraft around and started toward the FBO. While heading toward the FBO on the taxiway, the pilot noticed the aircraft was pulling toward the left and turning the aircraft off the taxiway. As the aircraft was turning onto the grass area, both the pilot and passenger tried to step on the brakes to stop the aircraft from going into the ditch area. The aircraft would not stop and headed into the ditch area. The pilot stated that the aircraft was running at 1000RPM. Pilot mentioned he would like to coordinate some type of safety seminar for the flying club. He also stated that he would send a typed or written statement within 10 days to this office. The aircraft is owned and registered to: back forty flying club, inc. 7126 twelve oak CT. Ft. wayne, in 46804-4795. Statement from jim beckstein (pilot): incident occurred at edj (Bellefontaine, Ohio airport) at about 2:30 p.m. we wre at runway 25 when we decided to return to FBO to pick up an item. We started to taxi on the centerline of the taxiway when suddenly, for an unknown reason, the airplane veered sharply to the left and down the embankment. Brakes did not seem to work to slow the aircraft and it came to a stop in a drainage ditch.