# NTSB CEN15CA304: Cessna 340, N5139J, South St. Paul, MN, July 12, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 12, 2015, 07:25 local (12:25 UTC) - Place: South St. Paul, MN - Coordinates: 44.857223, -93.032775 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8572&lon=-93.0328&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 11, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91542 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA304 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91542/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91542 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA304 ## Probable cause The airplane's inability to takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. The aborted takeoff resulted in a runway overrun and impact with a fence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 340, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: braking capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 340, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050/cases.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061050/cases.md) - [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Cessna 340, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 340, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cessna 340, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 340, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2076404), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was departing runway 16 on an instrument flight rules flight plan. After traveling down approximately two-thirds of the 4,002 foot runway, he elected to abort the takeoff after he felt the airplane was not able to climb and continue to accelerate. During the aborted takeoff, the airplane departed the runway surface and entered the grass overrun area which was covered with wet dew from the morning environmental conditions. The pilot attempted to stop the airplane; however, the airplane skidded and impacted a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right main wing spar and fuselage. The examination of the airplane revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was departing runway 16 on an instrument flight rules flight plan. After traveling down approximately two-thirds of the 4,002 foot runway, he elected to abort the takeoff after he felt the airplane was not able to climb and continue to accelerate. During the aborted takeoff, the airplane departed the runway surface and entered the grass overrun area which was covered with wet dew from the morning environmental conditions. The pilot attempted to stop the airplane; however, the airplane skidded and impacted a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right main wing spar and fuselage. The examination of the airplane revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5139J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5139J-2018-05-24), registration cancelled 2018-05-24, S/N 340-0529, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 340 - Registry model: [Cessna 340](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340) (registry code 2076404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 340-0529 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 2567 - Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-520-K 325 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR TSIO-520-K 325 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Petrojet Services Group, LLC - Registered owner: Jpr Investments LLC #12 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 7, 2015 - Departed: SGS, South St. Paul, MN - Destination: BIS, Bismark, ND - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SGS, South St. Paul Municipal Airpo, runway 16, 4,002 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 19, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 29,000 total, 900 in this make and model, 64 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 700 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: SGS ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20150712010649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150712010649A), Jul 12, 2015: Cessna 340, St Paul, MN, Substantial damage. During initial takeoff from runway 16 at ksgs, the pilot aborted the takeoff as he rotated due to perceived control issues. The aircraft departed the end of… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 2, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91542. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431340&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431341&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.