- Date
- February 25, 2003, 11:50 local (16:50 UTC)
- Place
- Williamson, NY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N51126Cessna 150J
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 25, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20030225035269A
- Case key
- 56566
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's failure to maintain proper runway alignment during the takeoff roll. A factor was the snow-covered runway.
Analysis
As the pilot taxied onto the runway, he could not see the centerline because the runway was covered with 3 inches of snow. He applied full power for the takeoff and during the takeoff roll, the airplane's left main landing gear caught the edge of a snow bank, and the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. The pilot stated he was unaware of his position to the left of the runway centerline during the takeoff, and reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On February 25, 2003, at 1150 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150J, N51126, was substantially damaged during a takeoff from Williamson-Sodus Airport (3G7), Williamson, New York. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, he intended to practice touch-and-go landings at Williamson. It was a "gray day" and about 3 inches of new snow had just fallen at the airport. When he taxied onto the runway, the pilot could not see the centerline due to the snow coverage. He applied full power for takeoff, and during the takeoff roll, the airplane's left main landing gear caught the edge of a snow bank. The airplane veered off the left side of the runway, and the nose of the airplane impacted the snow bank.
The pilot reported that he was unaware of his position to the left of the runway centerline during the takeoff, and that it was the first time he had taken off with fresh snow covering the runway.
The pilot reported about 123 hours of total flight time, 4 of which were in make and model. He had recently received a checkout in the airplane; however, the accident flight was his first flight without an instructor. The pilot also reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing, rudder, and propeller.
Weather reported in Rochester, New York, about 25 miles away, at 1154, included winds from 300 degrees at 6 knots, 9 miles visibility with light snow, few clouds at 2,300 feet, a broken cloud layer at 2,900 feet, and a broken cloud layer at 3,700 feet.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N51126
- Reported as
- Cessna 150J
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15069782
- Engine
- Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Williamson Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 3G7 · Williamson, NY
- Destination
- 3G7 · Williamson, NY
- Airport
- 3G7 · Williamson-Sodus Airport, runway 28, 3,800 × 60 ft, asphalt
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
- 51
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- February 22, 2003
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 123 total · 4 in this make and model · 4 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,900 ft broken
- Temperature
- 14 °F, dew point 1 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.46 inHg
- Observed at
- ROC, 25 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.