Whitfords Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Weedsport, New York 13166
Sunday, March 10, 1996 17:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot/owner kept his airplane at an airport that did not have fuel service. The pilot, with three adults and one infant, departed and flew to another airport to fuel the airplane. The pilot landed on runway 28, a 2,800 foot sod strip, which was covered with 6 to 8 inches of snow. The pilot refueled the airplane, and taxied out to runway 01, a 1,600 foot sod strip. Runway 01 was also snow covered, and had a path cleared down the middle about 16 feet wide. The pilot started the takeoff roll and rotated the airplane about 1,200 feet down the runway. After liftoff, the airplane drifted left, where the left main gear struck a snow bank and the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated that he did not have the experience to takeoff on the narrow runway with the crosswind condition. The airport had been NOTAM closed due to snow covered runways. Winds reported at an airport 20 miles east of the departure airport were from 290 degrees at 10 knots. The pilot's total flying experience was about 135 hours, and he had not flown in the previous 90 days.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's decision to takeoff on a closed snow-covered runway, and his inadequate compensation for a crosswind. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of recent flying experience.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/10/1996
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City WEEDSPORT
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 13166
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WHITFORDS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID B16
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1700 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID SYR
Elevation of weather observation facility 421
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) -2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 316
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 10 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1849
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:54AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3407R
NTSB Number NYC96LA072
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 182L
Aircraft Series Identifier 182L
Aircraft Serial Number 18258707
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 25 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 35
Airframe Hours 2414
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BARRETT P. PECK
Aircraft Owner Street Address 208 TWIN HILLS DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City SYRACUSE
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 13207
Operator is an individual? --
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? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code B16
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MPV
Destination City MONTPELIER
Destination State VT
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 10
Runway Length 2800
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --