Trabold's Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Skaneateles, New York 13152
Tuesady, September 1, 1998 18:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The tail-wheel airplane was departing a 1,900 foot long, 70 foot wide, grass runway. According to the pilot, '...Full power was brought up and the brakes were released. The aircraft veered immediately to the left and not having airspeed to correct, I could not bring it to centerline. The [airplane] accelerated but continued to the left...' The pilot then aborted the takeoff, however, the airplane continued to left, impacted a tree, and flipped over. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact abnormalities of the airframe or engine. The pilot stated he did not remember if the airplane's tail wheel was straight when he commenced the takeoff roll.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure maintain directional control and his delayed decision to abort the takeoff. Contributing factors were trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/1/1998
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City SKANEATELES
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 13152
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TRABOLD'S
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
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 1100
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1754 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID SYR
Elevation of weather observation facility 421
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
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) 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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1349
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 1 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1954
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:47AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6287P
NTSB Number NYC98LA178
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 Maule
Aircraft Model MX-7-160
Aircraft Series Identifier MX-7-160
Aircraft Serial Number 19018C
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200
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 Jun 14 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 119
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DONALD P. TRABOLB
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3743 FISHER ROAD
Aircraft Owner City SKANEATELES
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 13152
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 NONE
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
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 28
Runway Length 1900
Runway Width 70
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --