- Date
- June 25, 1997, 06:30 local (11:30 UTC)
- Place
- Buffalo, ND
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1299WWeatherly 201C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 31, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970625045999A
- Case key
- 10611
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 inadequate preflight planning/preparation, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Water on the runway and the soft terrain were related factors.
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 reported that there was visible standing water on the runway when he initiated the takeoff roll. He said that during the takeoff roll, 'the left main wheel contacted some water on the runway and dragged the airplane left, off the runway to a soft field.' After reaching the soft field, the aircraft nosed over and came to rest on its back.
Factual narrative
On June 25, at 0630 central daylight time, a Weatherly 201C, N1299W, exited the prepared runway surface, following a loss of directional control during a takeoff roll on runway 36 (2,500' X 50', grass), at Grieve Airport (Y-20), near Buffalo, North Dakota. The 14 CFR Part 91 aircraft repositioning flight was departing in visual meteorological conditions for the local planed flight. No flight plan was on file. The pilot reported minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage.
In a telephone conversation, the pilot reported that it had rained for 72 hours before the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he wanted to reposition his aircraft to a dryer field because of the existing runway conditions. The pilot reported that there was visible standing water on the runway when he initiated the takeoff roll. The pilot said that during the takeoff roll, "the left main wheel contacted some water on the runway and dragged the airplane left, off the runway to a soft field." Upon reaching the soft field the aircraft nosed over and came to rest on its back.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1299W
- Reported as
- Weatherly 201C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1007
- Airframe hours
- 4,286
- Engine
- P&W R-985-AN1, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Scott A. Hoff
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 15, 1996 · 40 hours before
- Departed
- Y20
- Destination
- RLA · Embden, ND
- Airport
- Y20 · Grieve, runway 36, 2,500 × 50 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
- 36
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 600 total · 40 in this make and model · 479 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FAR, 20 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.