Comayagua Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Soto Cano
Saturday, May 6, 1995 16:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A DAYLIGHT DEPARTURE AT SOTO CANO, HONDURAS, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK AN ARRESTING CABLE AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS AT 70 KNOTS WHEN HE SAW THE CABLE; HOWEVER, HE WAS TOO CLOSE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE KNEW THE CABLE WAS THERE PRIOR TO BEGINNING THE TAKEOFF ROLL BUT HE FORGOT IT WAS THERE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE WITH THE ARRESTING GEAR, RESULTING IN THE AIRCRAFT STRIKING AN ARRESTING CABLE. THE PILOT'S COMPLACENCY WAS A FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/6/1995
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City SOTO CANO
Event State --
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport COMAYAGUA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MHSL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2100
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 8000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 800
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 2 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Mar 1 2012 9:51AM
User who most recently changed record broda
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N26496
NTSB Number FTW95WA227
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 550
Aircraft Series Identifier 550
Aircraft Serial Number BB-498
Certified Max Gross Weight 14600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 5
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Jan 27 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 57
Airframe Hours 9696
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name --
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City OKLAHOMA CITY
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 73119
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Public Use
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MHSL
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MPTO
Destination City PANAMA CITY
Destination State OF
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 29 2003 11:15AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\HAMG
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 17
Runway Length 8000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --