Private Airstip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Austin, Indiana 47102
Sunday, March 25, 2007 17:24 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane impacted trees and a house following a tailwind takeoff from a short (1,161 feet) grass runway at near gross weight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No mechanical anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation. Due to the increased rolling friction associated with a grass runway, the tailwind, and the short runway, the airplane lacked sufficient takeoff distance to clear the obstructions. Had the pilot carefully reviewed the preceding items during his preflight planning/preparations, he would have realized it was not advisable to attempt a takeoff.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper preflight planning/preparation, and his failure to abort the takeoff. Contributing factors were a tailwind and a short runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/25/2007
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1724
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Austin
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 47102
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 385959N
Event Location Longitude 0855959W
Event Location Airport Private Airstip
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 606
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 315
Weather Observation Facility ID BMG
Elevation of weather observation facility 845
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 17
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.21
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23399
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Mar 29 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 30 2008 1:28PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Indianapolis FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N66673
NTSB Number CHI07LA095
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 Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 150M
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 15076199
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 6415.9
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Pilot
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Austin
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
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? 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 --
Departure City Austin
Departure State IN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1724
Departure Time Zone EDT
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
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 2 2008 6:11PM
User who most recently changed record BOWL
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 090
Runway Length 1161
Runway Width 58
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --