Frankfort-Highland Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Utica, New York 13501
Sunday, February 25, 2007 17:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll, the Cessna 172 "didn't feel right," so he aborted the takeoff. During the aborted takeoff, the airplane "pulled to the left," and impacted a snowbank, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, during an aborted takeoff, which resulted in a collision with a snowbank.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/25/2007
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Utica
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 13501
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 430115N
Event Location Longitude 0751013W
Event Location Airport Frankfort-Highland Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 6B4
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 1325
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1654 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID SYR
Elevation of weather observation facility 421
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 41
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 12000
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) -1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21506
NTSB Notification Source EROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 29 2007 12:24PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7141A
NTSB Number NYC07CA069
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 None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 29241
Certified Max Gross Weight 2190
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 4
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 4175
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Thomas Maugeri
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Frankfort
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 13340
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name John Farruggia
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City West Winfield
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 13491
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 6B4
Departure City Utica
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 6B4
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - aborted
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 15 2007 1:32PM
User who most recently changed record MUZD
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 2550
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --