ATL96LA054

The pilot reported that during the preflight inspection of the airplane, the right fuel tank had about 30 gallons of fuel and the left tank had only 5 gallons of fuel. After a before takeoff runup check was completed, the pilot was cleared into position for takeoff. As the pilot started the takeoff roll, he noticed that the airplane started drifting to the right; efforts to arrest the right drift failed. The airplane continued the right drift off the side of the runway into the grass and nosed over. Examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical problem. Winds were 330 degrees at 12 knots gusting 22 knots; runway 05 was the active runway.

On February 24, 1996, at 1025 eastern standard time, a Cessna 210, N3887Y, nosed over during an aborted takeoff attempt on runway 05 at the Kinston Regional Jetport in Kinston, North Carolina. The personal flight operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the pilot was not injured. The accident occurred during the initial takeoff attempt from Kinston.

During the preflight inspection of the airplane, the pilot determined that thirty gallons of fuel were in the right fuel tank, and only about five gallons were in the left fuel tank. No refueling operation occurred subsequent to the pilot's preflight inspection. After taxing to the approach end of runway 05, the pilot completed a runup inspection , and received a takeoff clearance from the tower.

According to the pilot, during the initial phase of the takeoff roll, he applied left aileron to correct for the left cross wind. He also stated that as the takeoff roll developed, the airplane drifted right of the runway centerline. As the drift continued, the pilot aborted the takeoff attempt. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway into the grass and nosed over. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot, or discovered during the examination of the wreckage The prevailing winds were reported at 330 degrees at 12 knots with wind gust to 22 knots.