Frank Lane Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ozark, Arkansas 72949
Sunday, September 19, 1999 12:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane struck a fence, fence post, and trees during a runway overrun following an aborted takeoff from a private grass airstrip. The pilot landed the airplane at the private grass airstrip without incident. During the subsequent departure, the airplane was not gaining airspeed, and the takeoff was aborted. According to a drawing submitted by the pilot, the airplane had traveled 1,800 feet down the 2,600-foot airstrip when he aborted the takeoff. The pilot reported that the remaining 800 feet of the grass runway 'had been replanted with new grass and had not been mowed, causing insufficient traction to stop.' The passenger reported that 'due to new, wet grass, the airplane slid' off the end of the runway.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun. A factor was the wet grass runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/19/1999
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1215
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City OZARK
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72949
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FRANK LANE
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 600
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 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) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 2
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 617
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 19 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1248
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 10:01AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N469RA
NTSB Number FTW99LA263
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 Unknown
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number 38-78A0531
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 20 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 24
Airframe Hours 5486
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FRANK G. BECKMAN, SR.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2511 SPRADLING AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City FORT SMITH
Aircraft Owner State AR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 72904
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 1215
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FSM
Destination City FORT SMITH
Destination State AR
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9
Runway Length 2600
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --