Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Davidsville, Pennsylvania 15928
Tuesady, August 21, 2001 15:45 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot attempted a takeoff from a field. After a takeoff roll of about 900 feet on cut grass, the pilot turned the airplane to the right to avoid having the left wing pass over corn. The airplane entered an area of patchy clover and higher grass, and would not accelerate. As the airplane approached power lines ahead, the pilot turned it another 30 degrees to the right, and continued with the takeoff roll. The airplane went through a the fence, dragging a part of it on the landing gear, then went through trees where the wings were sheared off. The airplane came to rest inverted. The takeoff attempt was made with the wing flaps retracted. However, the manufacturer recommended the use of 1/4 flaps for soft field or maximum performance takeoffs. In addition, the magneto switch was found in the left magneto position, and the condition of the spark plugs was consistent with engine operation in that position.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff attempt. Factors included the pilot's failure to use both magnetos, and his failure to utilize soft field takeoff procedures.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/21/2001
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1545
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Davidsville
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 15928
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1554 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 37
Weather Observation Facility ID JST
Elevation of weather observation facility 2284
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 8500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4100
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.12
Density Altitude (feet) 3200
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11110
NTSB Notification Source FAA EROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 21 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1625
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Nov 28 2001 7:25AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Alleghney County, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N30247
NTSB Number NYC01LA213
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 177
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 177-01147
Certified Max Gross Weight 2350
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 Apr 3 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 2800
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Marvin M. Specter
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Eastchester
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 10709
Operator is an individual? Yes
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Ferry
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City Davidsville
Departure State PA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1545
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code JST
Destination City Johnstown
Destination State PA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 7 2001 8:06AM
User who most recently changed record COXP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --