Randolph Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Randolph, New York 14772
Saturday, April 19, 2003 19:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, prior to the takeoff attempt, the glare from the setting sun obscured his view, and he aligned the airplane "too far south of the centerline." During the takeoff roll, the airplane struck a tree which bordered the east-west runway's southern edge. The pilot applied the brakes, and the airplane nosed over. No mechanical anomalies were observed with the airplane, and winds, at an airport 17 miles to the east, were from the south at 7 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to attain/maintain proper runway alignment. A factor in the accident was the sun glare.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/19/2003
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Randolph
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14772
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 420901N
Event Location Longitude 0790005W
Event Location Airport Randolph Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID D85
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1855 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID KJHW
Elevation of weather observation facility 1723
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.2
Density Altitude (feet) 2070
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14283
NTSB Notification Source Cessna Aircraft Company
NTSB Notification Date Apr 21 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Rochester, NY

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N118F
NTSB Number IAD03LA047
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 170B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 25329
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 Oct 16 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 11.7
Airframe Hours 2939.6
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Robert H. Campbell
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Randolph
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 14772
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code D85
Departure City Randolph
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1900
Departure Time Zone --
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 - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 18 2003 9:41PM
User who most recently changed record COXP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 270
Runway Length 2400
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --