West Liberty Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

West Liberty, Kentucky 41472
Sunday, August 19, 2012 13:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll and initial climb, he thought he did not have enough airspeed to climb over a hill that was in the distance. He aborted the takeoff, landed the airplane, and attempted to stop the airplane before the end of the 2,400 foot-long runway. The airplane continued off of the departure end of the runway and collided with a ditch. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that it sustained substantial damage to both wings and the firewall. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's delayed decision to abort a takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/19/2012
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City West Liberty
Event State KENTUCKY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 41472
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 375431N
Event Location Longitude 0831504W
Event Location Airport West Liberty Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 9I3
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 934
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 25
Weather Observation Facility ID 9I3
Elevation of weather observation facility 934
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.91
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 1
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30626
NTSB Notification Source FAA SROCC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 29 2012 2:59PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4746J
NTSB Number ERA12CA516
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 BEECH
Aircraft Model A23-19
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number MB-182
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 2
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 May 12 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 683
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name QUIRK JAMES M
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City COLLIERVILLE
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38017-1322
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name QUIRK JAMES M
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City COLLIERVILLE
Operator State TN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 38017-1322
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 9I3
Departure City West Liberty
Departure State KY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 9I3
Destination City West Liberty
Destination State KY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 29 2012 3:00PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 2400
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --