- Date
- August 8, 1997, 11:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Stanley, ID
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N704AACessna 150M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 4, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970808021569A
- Case key
- 42669
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 failure to attain rotation speed. The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and rough runway conditions were factors.
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 reported that prior to takeoff he checked the takeoff performance chart and determined that for the temperature, altitude, runway condition, and wind speed, he had enough runway to clear a 50-foot obstacle. The pilot stated that prior to commencing the takeoff roll, he decided to use a soft field technique because of the rough runway condition. When he rotated the airplane for lift-off, the airplane would not gain altitude, and it settled back to the runway. The pilot reported that this occurred twice. As the pilot was attempting to maintain control of the airplane, it was blown off the runway and subsequently collided with a barbed wire fence.
Factual narrative
On August 8, 1997, at 1115 mountain daylight time, the pilot of a Cessna 150M, N704AA, operated by Mountain Home Aviation, as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with a barbed wire fence during takeoff from the Stanley Airport, Stanley, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was departing for Mountain Home, Idaho.
The pilot reported in a written statement that he had visually checked the wind direction and speed. During the preflight check, the pilot noted that the temperature was 75 degrees and he checked the Cessna Pilots Operating Handbook Performance Section for the takeoff distance. The pilot calculated that for the pressure altitude, temperature, runway condition and wind speed, that it would take approximately 3,036 feet of ground roll to clear a 50 foot obstacle. The airport length at Stanley is 4,300 feet.
The pilot stated that just prior to commencing the takeoff ground roll, he reviewed the soft field takeoff procedures and elected to use the soft field technique for takeoff because of the rough runway condition. The pilot stated that when he rotated the airplane for liftoff, the airplane failed to continue to gain altitude and settled back to the runway. The pilot reported that this occurred twice. The pilot stated that as he was attempting to maintain control of the airplane, it was blown off the runway to the east and subsequently collided with a barbed wire fence.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N704AA
- Reported as
- Cessna 150M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15078448
- Airframe hours
- 4,100
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Mountain Home Aviation
- Registered owner
- Arnold J. Borreson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 17, 1997
- Destination
- U76 · Mountain Home, ID
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- 2U7 · Stanley, runway 17, 4,300 × 150 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
- 42
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 260 total · 121 in this make and model · 192 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.