Chalet Suzanne Air Strip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lake Wales, Florida 33859
Tuesady, April 25, 2006 10:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that during his arrival to the airport, on the previous day, he noted the center of the runway was sandy and soft due to the drought. Before the departure, he walked a third of the runway to check the surface conditions. He decided to stay off the middle and favor the grassier side of the runway; however, he knew it would be bumpier during the takeoff roll. He elected to depart from runway 18, which is slightly downhill. The breeze was from the west-southwest. He performed a soft field takeoff while staying on the west side of the runway. The takeoff roll was bumpy and noted the airspeed indicator reached 55 mph, the rotation speed was 60 mph. The airplane encountered a bump, the airspeed drop to 50 mph then increased to 55 mph. The airplane encountered another bump and the airspeed dropped to 50 mph and increased again. By this time, the airplane crossed a road located toward the end of the runway, struck a berm, which sheared the nose wheel. The airplane became airborne with insufficient airspeed to fly. The left wing contacted the ground and the airplane spun 180 degrees, skidding backward before coming to a stop. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff resulting in an overrun of the runway and encounter with terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/25/2006
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Lake Wales
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33859
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 275717N
Event Location Longitude 0813651W
Event Location Airport Chalet Suzanne Air Strip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID X25
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID BOW
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
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) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20121
NTSB Notification Source FAA Atlanta Comm Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Aug 29 2006 3:49PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1051L
NTSB Number MIA06CA097
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Lake
Aircraft Model LA-4-200
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 644
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Michael L.Yates
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Cedar Keys
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code KX25
Departure City Lake Wales
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KBOW
Destination City Bartow
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 23 2006 2:11PM
User who most recently changed record KENJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --