- Date
- April 27, 1994, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place
- Carmi, IL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9167EAeronca 11 AC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 7, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940427010369A
- Case key
- 9522
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
poor preflight planning/preparation. Factors associated with the accident were the high vegetation (grass) 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.
Analysis
The pilot was attempting to takeoff on a private farm airstrip when the accident occurred. He stated the grass at the departure end of the airstrip was higher than at the arrival end. The airplane did not become airborne prior to reaching the end of the airstrip. He did not abort the takeoff because of a large ditch at the departure end of the airstrip. Just prior to reaching the ditch, the pilot pulled up in an attempt to become airborne. The landing gear caught the FAR side of the ditch.
Factual narrative
On April 27, 1994, at 1345 central daylight time, an Aeronca 11AC, N9167E, registered to Donald K. Orndorff, collided with the terrain during a takeoff from a private airstrip in Carmi, Illinois, while on a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight was to have originated at the time of the accident.
The pilot reported he was attempting to depart downhill to the north on the private farm airstrip with a headwind of approximately 7 knots. He stated the airplane tail started to lift when approximately 1/2 down the runway; however, the grass at the north end of the airstrip was longer and the airplane did not become airborne. He stated he did not abort the takeoff because of a 25-30' x 10'-15' ditch at the end of the airstrip. Just prior to reaching the ditch, he stated, he pulled up; however, the landing gear struck the far side of the ditch. The airplane came to rest 75' on the far side of the ditch.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9167E
- Reported as
- Aeronca 11 AC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 800
- Airframe hours
- 1,456
- Engine
- Continental A-65-8, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Donald K. Orndorff
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 21, 1993 · 45 hours before
- Destination
- HSB · Harrisburg, IL
- Airport
- Craig Williams Farm, runway 36, 1,500 × 60 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
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 774 total · 45 in this make and model · 722 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.