Oconto Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Oconto, Wisconsin 54153
Saturday, February 15, 1997 4:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that small finger snow drifts were on the runway at the time of the accident. The drifts were approximately one foot deep, and extended from the runway edge to approximately one half the distance to the runway centerline. The pilot said that during the takeoff roll, just before rotation, the right wheel of the airplane impacted one of the drifts, causing the airplane's nose to veer to the right, and the nose wheel to dig in. After hitting the snow drift the airplane flipped over on its back. The pilot reported that he had allowed the airplane to drift over to the right side of the runway during the takeoff roll.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the failure of the pilot to maintain proper runway alignment and thus clearance with the snow drifts during takeoff. A factor was the distance the snow drifts extended past the runway edge.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/15/1997
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 430
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City OCONTO
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54153
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport OCONTO MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OCQ
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 604
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 356 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID GRB
Elevation of weather observation facility 695
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) -14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 35
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 18 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:07PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N61914
NTSB Number CHI97TA070
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier 172
Aircraft Serial Number 17264882
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
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 Aug 12 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CIVIL AIR PATROL INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address BUILDING 714
Aircraft Owner City MAXWELL
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36112
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) Public Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code OCQ
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 430
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FWA
Destination City FORT WAYNE
Destination State IN
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 11
Runway Length 3199
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --