# Accident 20200926017949A: Cessna 140, New Smyrna, FL, September 26, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 26, 2020, 09:45 local time
- Place: New Smyrna, FL
- Airport: Massey Ranch Airpark
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.9789° N, 80.9248° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9789&lon=-80.9248&mi=10
- Aircraft: N89476, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N89476) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 140 (registry code 2071602, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 140
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 729 total, 402 in this make and model, 81 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20LA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA334) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200926017949A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 PILOT ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF FROM THE GRASS ALONG SIDE RUNWAY 36 AT MASSEY RANCH AIRPARK (KX50) IN N89476, A CE-140.  THE TAKEOFF ATTEMPT RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.

BEFORE BEGINNING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE PILOT TAXIED BACK AND DECIDED THAT THE GROUND FOR THE TAKEOFF WAS SOLID AND ACCEPTABLE FOR THE TAKEOFF.

DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT MAIN TIRE HIT AN AREA OF WATER THAT THE PILOT COULD NOT SEE SEATED AT THE CONTROLS IN .  THIS CAUSED THE PILOT TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT AND WENT THROUGH A FENCE THAT RAN PARALLEL TO THE RUNWAY.  THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT WING HIT A TREE AS THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A SHALLOW AREA OF WATER.

PRIMARY CAUSE OF ACCIDENT WAS THE LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF ROLL.

THE DAMAGE TO THE OUTER PORTION OF RIGHT WING AND TO THE RIGHT AILERON WAS SUBSTANTIAL.  THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER, RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND LANDING GEAR.

THE PILOT WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT AND WAS NOT INJURED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA20LA334](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA334), Sep 26, 2020: Cessna 140 (N89476), New Smyrna Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to depart from a non-suitable surface, which resulted in a loss of directional control during takeoff roll.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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