- Date
- February 24, 1995, 06:35 local (11:35 UTC)
- Place
- West Seneca, NY
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N13229Cessna 172M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report November 6, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950224002609A
- Case key
- 38923
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 planning/decision to attempt a takeoff on a narrow icy runway with crosswind conditions, which resulted in the loss of control of the airplane, impact with a snow bank, and a nose over.
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 used runway 24, a 66-foot-wide runway for takeoff. The runway was ice covered and braking action was poor, so he performed soft field takeoff techniques, to minimize the time on the runway. During the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left, and the pilot corrected to the right with full right rudder and full right aileron. The left main gear struck a snow bank and the airplane turned to the left and nosed over. The federal aviation administration inspector's statement of an interview with the pilot stated, '[the pilot] did not attempt to abort the takeoff because he thought he could lift off prior to [veering off] the side of the runway.' At greater buffalo international, 4 miles south, the winds were reported from 280 degrees at 20 knots gusting to 25 knots.
Factual narrative
On Friday, February 24, 1995 about 0635 eastern standard time (est), a Cessna 172M, N13229, piloted by Keith C. McMurtry, was substantially damaged during takeoff at Buffalo Airfield, West Seneca, New York. The pilot and two passengers received no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed for the flight being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated that he received a weather briefing about 0500 for a local flight at 0630. The purpose of the flight was to conduct a traffic report with two WDR radio employees. The pilot used runway 24, a 66 foot wide runway for takeoff. The pilot stated the runway conditions were ice covered with poor braking action, so he performed soft field takeoff procedures, including 10 degrees of flaps, to lift off the ground as soon as possible. During the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left of the runway, and the pilot corrected to the right with full right rudder and full right aileron. The left main gear struck a snow bank and the airplane turned to the left and nosed over.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector's statement of an interview with the pilot stated, "...[The pilot] did not attempt to abort the takeoff because he thought he could lift off prior to [veering off] the side of the runway."
At Greater Buffalo International, 4 miles south, the winds were reported from 280 degrees at 20 knots with gusts up to 25 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N13229
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17262592
- Airframe hours
- 4,300
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Operator
- Buffalo Airfield Mgmt. Copr.
- Registered owner
- Buffalo Airfield Mgmt. Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · February 3, 1995 · 35 hours before
- Departed
- 9G0
- Destination
- 9G0 · NY
- Airport
- 9G0 · Buffalo Airfield, runway 24, 2,667 × 66 ft, asphalt
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
- 22
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 306 total · 131 in this make and model · 199 as pilot in command · 43 in the last 90 days · 36 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 280° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,800 ft broken
- Temperature
- 25 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BUF, 4 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.
Other investigations on N13229 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.