# NTSB ERA11CA017: Cessna 120, N89603, Falls Village, CT, October 11, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 11, 2010, 08:05 local (12:05 UTC) - Place: Falls Village, CT - Coordinates: 41.955001, -73.363891 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9550&lon=-73.3639&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77535 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77535/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77535 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA017 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to abort the takeoff, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was repositioning the tail-wheeled airplane from a 720-foot grass strip to an airport for maintenance. He computed a takeoff distance of 450 feet and completed two practice takeoff runs to verify that the airplane was able to take off from the short runway. During the practice runs, with the airplane about 400 feet down the runway at an airspeed of 50 knots, the tail would rise normally and the pilot would abort the takeoff. During the accident takeoff roll, about 400 feet down the strip, the airplane encountered a dip in the terrain and briefly became airborne. The airplane settled back onto the runway and the pilot continued the takeoff, rotating airborne about 100 feet prior to a cornfield off the departure end of the runway. The pilot attempted to gain altitude, but the airplane struck corn stalks and descended into terrain. During the accident sequence that airplane incurred substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and engine firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was repositioning the tail-wheeled airplane from a 720-foot grass strip to an airport for maintenance. He computed a takeoff distance of 450 feet and completed two practice takeoff runs to verify that the airplane was able to take off from the short runway. During the practice runs, about 400 feet down the runway, when the airspeed indicated 50 knots, the tail "came up normal" and the pilot aborted the takeoff. About 400 feet into the accident takeoff roll, the airplane encountered a "dip," briefly became airborne, then settled back onto the runway. The pilot continued the takeoff, and rotated the airplane 100 feet prior to a cornfield off the departure end of the runway. The pilot attempted to gain altitude, but the airplane struck corn stalks and descended into terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and engine firewall. The pilot reported there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The winds reported at an airport 30 miles to the north of the accident location were calm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N89603](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89603-2015-05-21), registration cancelled 2015-05-21, S/N 8650, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 120 - Registry model: [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (registry code 2071402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 8650 - Airframe hours: 1319 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Willie Simon - Registered owner: Willie Simon - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 22, 1983 - Departed: NONE, Falls Village, CT - Destination: GBR, Great Barringto, MA - Airport: NONE, Private Grass Strip, runway 18, 720 × 20 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 23, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 28,400 total, 12 in this make and model, 24,500 as pilot in command, 175 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: PSF, 30 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20101011047249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101011047249A), Oct 11, 2010: Cessna 120, Falls Village, CT, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted to conduct a ferry flight from Village Falls CT to great barrington ma. On takeoff roll a bump on the grass strip bounced the aircraft at the… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 21, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77535. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 519 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338323&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338325&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports: KPSF METARs (item 3, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338326&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%3A%20KPSF%20METARs-Master.PDF - Performance Data (item 4, .PDF, 446 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338332&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Performance%20Data-Master.PDF - Photo #1: View of runway and airplane wreckage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338327&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%231%3A%20View%20of%20runway%20and%20airplane%20wreckage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo #2: View of Airplane Damage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 677 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338329&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%232%3A%20View%20of%20Airplane%20Damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.