FTW93LA104

The pilot aborted the takeoff after reaching 60 knots because he did not think he could safely takeoff in the distance remaining. He was unable to stop the airplane on the remaining runway. The airplane subsequently struck a ditch. The runway had a crest in it and ran uphill for the first 1,800 feet of the 2,500 feet available. The elevator trim was found in the full nose down setting. It was the pilot's first experience at the accident airport and his first flight in the accident make and model with four people onboard

On Sunday, March 14, 1993, at approximately 1845 central standard time, a Cessna 172M, N9689H, was substantially damaged when it collided with a ditch during an aborted takeoff at the Lake Murray State Park airport, near Overbrook, Oklahoma. The airplane, owned and operated by Monarch Air, and rented to the commercial pilot, was departing on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. There was no flight plan filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area. Neither the pilot or any of the three passengers were injured.

The pilot stated he initiated his takeoff roll from the numbers on runway 14 and that as he applied full power, all engine instruments were indicating normal. The runway had a crest in it and ran uphill for about the first 1,800 feet of the 2,500 feet available. The pilot stated the airplane did not seem to accelerate normally during the ground roll and that he had reached 55 to 60 knots when he topped the crest. He decided that he did not have enough runway remaining to safely execute the takeoff and aborted. The airplane ran off the end of the runway and collided with a ditch. All three landing gear collapsed after colliding with the ditch. The elevator trim was found in the full nose down position following the accident. Following the accident, the engine was test run in the airframe and found to operate within normal parameters. It was the pilot's first flight in a Cessna 172 with four persons aboard and his first takeoff from the accident airport.