Katama Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Edgartown, Massachusetts 02539
Sunday, July 18, 1993 16:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS WERE TAKING OFF ON RUNWAY 3 WHEN THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH PINE TREES. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD COMPLETED HIS PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WHICH INCLUDED A WEIGHT AND BALANCE CHECK. HE ALSO STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT WAS, 'PUSHED FORCEFULLY FORWARD AND TO PORT BY A REAR RIGHT CROSSWIND.' HE STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT ON THE RUNWAY, SO HE PULLED THE POWER OFF AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN AN OPEN FIELD. HE STATED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. AN FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF DOWNWIND ON A 4000 FOOT LONG TURF STRIP. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE NEVER GAINED ALTITUDE AND EXITED THE RUNWAY WITH FULL POWER THROUGH SMALL PINE TREES SHEARING OFF THE LEFT MAIN GEAR. THE PILOT PROVIDED THE PASSENGERS' WEIGHTS TO THE FAA. THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE WAS CALCULATED BY THE FAA INSPECTOR, USING THE CESSNA PERFORMANCE CHARTS. HIS CALCULATIONS REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS OVER GROSS WEIGHT BY 40 LBS, AND OUTSIDE THE CENTER OF GRAVITY ENVELOPE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF. OTHER RELATED FACTORS WERE: THE TAILWIND, AND THE GROSS WEIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE BEING EXCEEDED.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/18/1993
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1620
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City EDGARTOWN
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02539
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport KATAMA AIRPARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1B2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 20
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1645 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 1
Weather Observation Facility ID MVY
Elevation of weather observation facility 1
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 764
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 18 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N52858
NTSB Number BFO93LA127
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 172P
Aircraft Series Identifier 172P
Aircraft Serial Number 17274622
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
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 15 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 310
Airframe Hours 2580
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PARAMUS FLYING CLUB
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 5073
Aircraft Owner City S HACKENSACK
Aircraft Owner State NJ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07606
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PARAMUS FLYING CLUB
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O.BOX 5073
Operator City S HACKENSACK
Operator State NJ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 07606
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 1B2
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code TEB
Destination City TETERBORO
Destination State NJ
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 3
Runway Length 4000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --