IAD03LA047

According to the pilot, prior to the takeoff attempt, the glare from the setting sun obscured his view, and he aligned the airplane "too far south of the centerline." During the takeoff roll, the airplane struck a tree which bordered the east-west runway's southern edge. The pilot applied the brakes, and the airplane nosed over. No mechanical anomalies were observed with the airplane, and winds, at an airport 17 miles to the east, were from the south at 7 knots.

On April 19, 2003, at 1900 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N118F, was substantially damaged when it impacted a tree during an attempted takeoff at Randolph Airport (D85), Randolph, New York. The certificated private pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he was attempting to take off to the west, with the intention of flight in the local traffic pattern. He stated that the setting sun obscured his vision during the takeoff, and approximately 400 feet into the takeoff roll, the airplane's left wing clipped a tree. The airplane then swerved to the left, the pilot applied the brakes, and the airplane nosed over.

The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane, and noted that he was aligned "too far south of the centerline" during the takeoff.

The pilot described the runway as a 100-foot-wide by 2,400-foot-long turf strip aligned along an east-west heading, with trees that bordered the runway's south side, effectively narrowing the runway to 90 feet in some places.

Weather conditions reported at Jamestown, 17 miles east of the accident site, at 1855, included winds from 170 degrees true at 7 knots and clear skies.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing spar.