Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nappanee, Indiana 46550
Tuesady, August 10, 2004 18:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain during an aborted takeoff. The pilot's stated, "It was a perfect takeoff, until I reached 105 mph. I attempted to rotate the plane, but was unable to even lift the nose wheel off the ground. I tried again at 115 mph, but the plane was still unresponsive. After the 2nd failed rotation attempt, I immediately closed the throttles and applied heavy breaking. ... While I kept the plane straight, we went through a barb-wire fence, up over a road, down an easement and stopped in a farmer's field."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The delay in the pilot's performance of an aborted takeoff. A factor was the reported restricted movement of the elevator. Additional factors were the rising easement and roadway the airplane went over before coming to rest in the farmers field.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/10/2004
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Nappanee
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46550
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 412646N
Event Location Longitude 0855605W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
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 1824 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID GSH
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 3100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2300
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.93
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report Nappanee Municipal Airport Nappanee, Indiana, USA
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 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 16831
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Aug 10 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2213
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2004 12:45PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office South Bend, IN FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7940Q
NTSB Number CHI04CA221
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 310Q
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 310Q0623
Certified Max Gross Weight 5300
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 14000
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Lazy Eight Aviation
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3511 Silerside Road, Suite 501
Aircraft Owner City Wilmington
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19810
Operator is an individual? No
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 C03
Departure City Nappanee
Departure State IN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SKY
Destination City SANDUSKY
Destination State OH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 9 2004 3:52PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
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 --