# NTSB NYC95LA061: Cessna 172M, N13229, West Seneca, NY, February 24, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 24, 1995, 06:35 local (11:35 UTC) - Place: West Seneca, NY - Coordinates: 42.840354, -78.749145 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8404&lon=-78.7491&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38923 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38923/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95LA061 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - crosswind component - excessive (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - icy - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - narrow - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - snowbank - Nose over, takeoff - roll/run ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N13229-1996-02-27), registration cancelled 1996-02-27, S/N 17262592 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17262592 - Airframe hours: 4300 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950224002609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950224002609A), Feb 24, 1995: Cessna 172M, Buffalo, NY, Substantial damage. Tried depart ice covered runway in strong crosswind. Slid off side into snowbank. Nosed over. Thought could liftoff ## Other investigations on N13229 (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB NYC74DFJ37](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC74DFJ37), Jun 20, 1974: Cessna 172 (N13229), Avon, NY, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.