- Date
- December 31, 2002, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Mount Union, PA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N136ERSocata TB 9
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 25, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO-13
- FAA report
- 20021231037639A
- Case key
- 56266
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 delay in aborting the takeoff. A factor was the soft runway.
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 that he was departing on runway 22, a 3,120-foot long, 80-foot wide, gravel and turf runway. The runway was "soft and soupy," and the airplane did not accelerate properly. The pilot was able to lift two of the landing gear off the runway, but the airplane would not become airborne. The pilot further stated that the accident airplane usually became airborne after a ground roll of about 500 feet, on a paved runway with only one person on board. During the accident takeoff, the wheels didn't begin to break ground until approximately 1,000 beyond the approach end of the runway. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff about 1,600 feet beyond the approach end of the runway. However, the airplane skid on the soft ground, overran the runway at a speed of approximately 35-45 knots and came to rest inverted in a ditch. The pilot added that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On December 31, 2002, about 1200 eastern standard time, a Socata TB 9, N136ER, was substantially damaged during an overrun, following an aborted takeoff at Huntingdon County Airport (MUU), Mount Union, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual metrological conditions prevailed for the planned flight to York Airport, York, Pennsylvania. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot reported that he was departing on runway 22 at MUU. Runway 22 was 3,120 feet long, 80 feet wide, and consisted of gravel and turf. The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll, the runway was "soft and soupy," and the airplane did not accelerate properly. He was able to lift the nose gear and one of the main gears off the ground, but the airplane would not become airborne. The pilot then aborted the takeoff, the airplane overran the runway, and came to rest inverted in a ditch. The pilot added that he did not experience any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
The pilot further stated that the accident airplane usually became airborne after a ground roll of about 500 feet, on a paved runway with only one person on board. During the accident takeoff, the wheels didn't begin to break ground until approximately 1,000 feet beyond the approach end of the runway. The pilot added that about 1,600 feet beyond the approach end of the runway, he decided to abort the takeoff. However, the airplane skid on the soft ground, and overran the runway at a speed of approximately 35-45 knots.
The pilot reported a total flight experience of approximately 100 hours; of which, about 85 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to both wings, the nose gear, and the firewall.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N136ER
- Reported as
- Socata TB 9
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1526
- Airframe hours
- 6,961
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Steven Nagorny
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 2, 2002 · 12 hours before
- Departed
- MUU · Mount Union, PA
- Destination
- THV · York, PA
- Airport
- MUU · Huntington County Airport, runway 22, 3,120 × 80 ft, gravel
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
- 18
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- November 1, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 100 total · 85 in this make and model · 45 as pilot in command · 24 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 41 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.01 inHg
- Observed at
- AOO, 15 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.