- Date
- December 17, 2005, 08:15 local (13:15 UTC)
- Place
- Toronto, OH
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5031ZPiper PA-22-108
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 28, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration - Cleveland FSDO
- FAA report
- 20051217032249A
- Case key
- 63094
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to depart from the snow-covered runway, which resulted in the swerve during takeoff roll and subsequent nose over.
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.
Analysis
The airplane swerved during takeoff roll on a snow-covered runway and subsequently nosed over after dragging its left wingtip. The pilot reported that the turf runway was covered with approximately two inches of "crusted snow." The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll he attempted to follow the tire tracks left in the snow by a previous airplane. The pilot reported that about 75 yards into the takeoff run he decided that the "aircraft was not going to fly." The pilot stated he "was about to close throttle and shut down, when the airplane veered to the left." The airplane subsequently dragged the left wing tip and nosed over. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if prior to takeoff he had "inspected the runway surface for degree of snow crusting." The pilot also stated that the runway was "prone to drifting snow in various areas at times."
Factual narrative
The airplane swerved during takeoff roll on a snow-covered runway and subsequently nosed over after dragging its left wingtip. The pilot reported that the turf runway was covered with approximately two inches of "crusted snow." The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll he attempted to follow the tire tracks left in the snow by a previous airplane. The pilot reported that about 75 yards into the takeoff run he decided that the "aircraft was not going to fly." The pilot stated he "was about to close throttle and shut down, when the airplane veered to the left." The airplane subsequently dragged the left wing tip and nosed over. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if prior to takeoff he had "inspected the runway surface for degree of snow crusting." The pilot also stated that the runway was "prone to drifting snow in various areas at times."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5031Z
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-108
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-8649
- Airframe hours
- 5,394.73
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-C1B, 108 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 2005
- Departed
- 1G8 · Toronto, OH
- Destination
- 3G8 · Sebring, OH
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- 1G8 · Eddie Dew Memorial Airpark, runway 34, 2,268 × 145 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
- 70
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 1, 2004
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,189 total · 2,180 in this make and model · 2,077 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 23 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.37 inHg
- Observed at
- PIT
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N5031Z · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.