CHI03LA158

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · Owensville, MO · June 2, 2003

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 1, 2003, 19:00 local (Jun 2, 2003, 00:00 UTC)
Place
Owensville, MO
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N68778Cessna 152
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 25, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA- St. Louis FSDO
FAA report
20030601014019A
Case key
57198

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilots delayed attempt to perform an aborted takeoff and subsequent overrun. Contributing factors to the accident were the fence and the ditch.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

OverrunTakeoff
Aborted takeoff - delayedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectTakeoff - aborted
Object - fenceFactor
Terrain condition - ditchFactor

Analysis

The airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted a fence and a ditch after overrunning the runway on takeoff. The pilot reported he taxied the airplane onto the runway centerline and applied full power to the airplane's engine while holding the brakes. The pilot noted he released the brakes and the airplane began to roll. The pilot stated the airplane would not lift-off before 1/2 to 3/4 of the runway was used. The pilot reported he decided to execute an aborted takeoff and reduced engine power to idle and applied brakes. The pilot noted the airplane overran the end of the runway where it impacted a barbwire fence and a ditch. The pilot reported the airplane's loaded weight and center of gravity were within the performance limitations of the airplane at the time of the accident flight. The airplanes weight and balance was calculated using information obtained from data given by the pilot and the airplane was found to be within performance limitations.

Factual narrative

On June 1, 2003, about 1900 central daylight time, a Cessna 152, N68778, operated by St. Charles Flying Service as a rental airplane, sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff when it departed the end of runway 9 (1,800 feet by 100 feet, turf) and impacted a fence at Winter Field Airport, Owensville, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot and his passenger reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident with an intended destination of St. Charles Municipal Airport (3SQ), St. Charles, Missouri.

The pilot reported he taxied the airplane onto the runway centerline and applied full power to the airplane's engine while holding the brakes. The pilot noted he released the brakes and the airplane began to roll. The pilot stated, "Approximately 1/2 to 3/4 the runway was used and the decision was made that the airplane would not lift-off and climb." The pilot reported he reduced engine power to idle and applied brakes. The pilot noted the airplane had not stopped by the end of the runway and impacted a barbwire fence and a ditch.

The pilot reported he performed a weight and balance calculation and a takeoff performance calculation prior to takeoff on the accident flight. The pilot noted the airplane's loaded weight and center of gravity were within the performance limitations of the airplane. The pilot stated he used 10 degrees of flaps on takeoff and calculated his takeoff distance to be 950 feet.

The airplanes weight and balance was calculated using information obtained from the pilot. The airplane's empty weight was reported as 1,155 pounds with a moment-arm of 29.6 inches. The pilot indicated his weight as 220 pounds and his passengers weight as 180 pounds. The pilot noted the airplane contained 14 gallons, or 84 pounds, of fuel. The airplane's total weight at the time of the accident flight was calculated to be 1,639 pounds with a moment of 53,618 inches per pound. The center of gravity was calculated to be 32.7 inches aft of the datum line. The maximum certificated gross weight for the airplane was 1,670 pounds. The forward center of gravity limitation was 31.0 inches aft of the datum line and the aft center of gravity limitation was 36.5 inches aft of the datum line.

The airplane's takeoff performance was calculated using the pilots operating handbook. The ground roll distance for takeoff was calculated to be about 825 feet and the take-off distance over a 50-foot obstacle was calculated to be 1,530 feet with a temperature of 19 degrees Celsius and a pressure altitude of 898 feet.

The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane or the airplane's engine prior to the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N68778
Reported as
Cessna 152
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15282372
Airframe hours
9,082.7
Engine
Lycoming O-235-L2C, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
St. Charles Flying Service
Registered owner
Dennis Donnely
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · April 7, 2003 · 45.5 hours before
Departed
6M06 · Owensville, MO
Destination
3SQ · St. Charles, MO
Airport
6M06 · Winter Field Airport, runway 09, 1,800 × 100 ft, grass/turf

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
19
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
417 total · 50 in this make and model · 367 as pilot in command · 77 in the last 90 days · 44 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
120° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
66 °F, dew point 52 °F
Altimeter
29.98 inHg
Observed at
VIH, 17 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.