# NTSB ERA12CA118: Cessna 120, N89809, Montague, MA, December 17, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 17, 2011, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Montague, MA - Coordinates: 42.591667, -72.523056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5917&lon=-72.5231&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 8, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82552 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA118 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82552/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82552 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA118 ## Probable cause The pilot's delay in performing a rejected takeoff after experiencing an intermittent loss of engine power, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 895 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 3,659 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 120, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2071402), [All aircraft, 10,153 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, as the airplane accelerated to 40 mph, the engine sputtered, and he reduced power with sufficient runway remaining to stop; however, the sputtering ceased, and he then added power to continue the takeoff attempt. The engine sputtered a second time, and the pilot reduced engine power again. At that point, he was concerned about the length of runway remaining and elected to steer off the left side of the runway, rather than risk going off the end of the runway and down into a ditch. As the airplane departed the left side of the runway, it struck a runway sign and sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and empennage. The pilot subsequently defueled and moved the airplane before it could be examined. Therefore, it was not possible to verify the fuel quantity or determine if any fuel contamination was present. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical failures. The pilot reported that he should have aborted the takeoff earlier. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, as the airplane accelerated to 40 mph, the engine sputtered and he reduced power with sufficient runway remaining to stop; however, the sputter ceased and he then added power to continue the takeoff attempt. The engine sputtered a second time and the pilot reduced engine power again. At that point, he was concerned about the length of runway remaining, and elected to steer off the left side of the runway, rather than risk going off the end of the runway and down a ditch. As the airplane departed the left side of the runway, it struck a runway sign and came to rest upright. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and empennage. The pilot subsequently defueled and moved the airplane before it was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. As such, the inspector was unable to verify the fuel quantity or if any fuel contamination was present. His subsequent examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical failures. Additionally, the pilot reported that there were no other preimpact mechanical malfunctions and that he should have aborted the takeoff earlier. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N89809](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N89809), registered now, S/N 8858 (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: 8858 - Airframe hours: 2579 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Roske John L - Registered owner: Roske John L - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 14, 2011, 31 hours before - Departed: 0B5, Montague, MA - Destination: ORE, Orange, MA - Airport: 0B5, Turners Falls Airport, runway 34, 3,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 2, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 404 total, 55 in this make and model, 404 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: ORE, 10 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 20111217028119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111217028119A), Dec 17, 2011: Cessna 120, Turners Falls, MA, Substantial damage. On December 17, 2011, at approximately 1030AM, N80809, a 1946 Cessna 120, was involved in a collision with an airport runway sign. [privacy data omitted],… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82552. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 990 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360933&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360934&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Photo: Aft Fuselage And Empennage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 218 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360936&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20%20Aft%20Fuselage%20And%20Empennage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%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.