- Date
- September 7, 2003, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place
- Jetersville, VA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N63600Cessna 150M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 24, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20030907030489A
- Case key
- 57873
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 delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in an overrun. A factor was the dew on the grass.
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 attempted to takeoff from a grass field that was about 1,800 feet long, with wet grass that was between 4 and 5 inches tall. The pilot reported that the airplane would not accelerate to takeoff speed, and then elected to abort the takeoff. He applied brakes; however, the airplane began to slide and struck trees at the end of the field.
Factual narrative
On September 7, 2003, at 0930 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 150M, N63600, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff from a grass field in Jetersville, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. No flight plan had been filed for the personal flight that was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot reported that he landed in the field about 0900, and had previously operated from the field without any problems. He described the field as approximately 1,800 feet in length, and covered with grass that was approximately 4 to 5 inches high.
About 0930, he initiated his takeoff. In a written statement he said:
"...The winds were calm and the sky was clear and all conditions seemed perfect for a successful takeoff. During the takeoff run, the liftoff speed was never attained. A top speed of only 50 knots was reached and something seemed to hold the plane at this speed. Once I realized that I would not be able to liftoff at this speed, I decided to abort the takeoff. During my attempt to stop the aircraft by hard braking, the tires were sliding on the grass which was still wet from the morning dew, and I was unable to stop the aircraft before it slid into the trees...."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N63600
- Reported as
- Cessna 150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15077419
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Departed
- NONE · Jetersville, VA
- Destination
- NONE
- Airport
- NONE · Private Airfield, runway 23
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
- 56
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 141 total · 100 in this make and model · 7 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.