- Date
- December 24, 1998, 14:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place
- Pembroke Pines, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N252WMCessna 150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 27, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19981224046399A
- Case key
- 45534
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to abort the takeoff with insufficient runway remaining.
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.
Analysis
The pilot stated he started his takeoff to the west. After rotation he was not comfortable with his altitude in relation to obstacles off the departure end of the runway (trees). He aborted his takeoff late. The airplane touched down on the runway, continued off the end of the runway and collided with a fence and a guardrail. When asked what caused the accident the pilot stated, 'poor judgement to abort with insufficient runway remaining to stop the airplane'.
Factual narrative
On December 24, 1998, about 1445 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150, N252WM, registered to a private owner aborted a takeoff at a private airstrip in the vicinity of Pembroke Pines, Florida, and collided with a fence and guardrail. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from a private airstrip (Macivor Field) about 1 minute before the accident.
The pilot stated he started his takeoff to the west. After rotation he was not comfortable with his altitude in relation to obstacles off the departure end of the runway (trees). He aborted his takeoff late. The airplane touched down on the runway, continued off the end of the runway and collided with a fence and a guardrail. When asked what caused the accident the pilot stated, "poor judgement to abort with insufficient runway remaining to stop the airplane". When asked if he experienced any mechanical problems with the airplane, he stated no.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N252WM
- Reported as
- Cessna 150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15062674
- Airframe hours
- 4,639
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Harlan W. Wyborny
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 7, 1998 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- X5
- Airport
- runway 27, 2,300 × 50 ft, grass/turf
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
- 58
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 101 total · 37 in this make and model · 101 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FLL
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.