- Date
- July 8, 2000, 22:30 local (Jul 9, 2000, 02:30 UTC)
- Place
- Alliance, OH
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3583VCessna 140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000708042809A
- Case key
- 49678
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 improper decision to abort the takeoff. A factor in this accident was the dark night conditions.
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 airplane was departing a 2,088 foot-long, turf runway, in night visual meteorological conditions. The pilot stated that the airplane accelerated normally; however, he felt uncomfortable not being able to see the tree line at the end of the runway and described his view as, 'looking into a black hole.' When the airplane was about three-quarters of the way down the runway, he elected to abort the takeoff. During the aborted takeoff, he applied heavy braking; however, the airplane entered an area of mud located at the end of the runway, and nosed over. The pilot reported 315 hours of total fight experience, of which, about 70 hours were in make and model. Additionally, the pilot had accumulated 15.3 hours of night flight experience; which included about 1 hour of night flight time and five night takeoffs and landings during the 20 days prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
On July 8, 2000, about 2230 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 140, N3583V, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff from the Barber Airport, Alliance, Ohio. The certificated commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight destined for the Elyria Airport, Elyria, Ohio. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The airplane was departing Runway 09, a 2,088 foot-long, 130 foot-wide, turf runway, equipped with non-standard runway edge lights located on the left side of the runway.
The pilot stated that the airplane accelerated normally; however, he felt uncomfortable not being able to see the tree line at the end of the runway and described his view as, "looking into a black hole." When the airplane was about three-quarters of the way down the runway, he elected to abort the takeoff. During the aborted takeoff, he applied heavy braking; however, the airplane entered an area of mud located at the end of the runway, and nosed over.
The pilot stated he did not experience any mechanical abnormalities.
The pilot reported 315 hours of total fight experience, of which, about 70 hours were in make and model. Additionally, the pilot had accumulated 15.3 hours of night flight experience; which included about 1 hour of night flight time and five night takeoffs and landings during the 20 days prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3583V
- Reported as
- Cessna 140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 14852
- Airframe hours
- 2,100
- Engine
- Continental C-90-12F, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Brian J. Todd
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 3, 2000 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- 2D1
- Destination
- 1G1 · Elyria, OH
- Airport
- 2D1 · Barber, runway 9, 2,088 × 130 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
- 25
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 319 total · 64 in this make and model · 266 as pilot in command · 43 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CAK, 260 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.