Treichler Farm Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

East Aurora, New York 14052
Thursday, June 20, 2013 16:20 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that his tailwheel airplane was near its maximum gross weight and he planned to depart his private airstrip from runway 18, a 1,530-foot long turf runway. The pilot had completed takeoff performance calculations, which revealed a total distance of 1,429 feet to clear a 50-foot obstacle. The pilot's calculations included adjustments for an up-sloping runway, grass taller than 4 inches, soft terrain, and no headwind component. He observed that the wind at the time of departure was from the south to southwest at 5 to 10 knots. The engine developed rated power during run-up and the takeoff roll; however, the airplane lifted off slightly further down the runway than the pilot expected and it seemed to stop accelerating in a flat climb attitude. Due to obstacles at the end of the runway, the pilot reduced power and performed an "aggressive" wheel landing in an attempt to stop on the remaining runway. The airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted on the grass runway. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the forward fuselage and vertical stabilizer. The recorded wind at an airport located approximately 15 miles from the accident site, about 25 minutes prior to the accident, was from 260 degrees at 8 knots, gusting to 14 knots. The pilot added that after the accident, he noticed that the wind had shifted from south to north.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a rejected takeoff on a soft turf runway with a gusty wind, resulting in the airplane nosing over.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/20/2013
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1620
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City East Aurora
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14052
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 424542N
Event Location Longitude 0782946W
Event Location Airport Treichler Farm
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 5NK9
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 1140
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1554 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 320
Weather Observation Facility ID BUF
Elevation of weather observation facility 727
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
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) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 14
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.21
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 Docket Number (internal use) 31521
NTSB Notification Source FAA Eastern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 11 2013 2:45PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N11679
NTSB Number ERA13CA298
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 BELLANCA
Aircraft Model 7KCAB
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 307-72
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
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 May 23 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 1272
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name KING WILLIAM A
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City NORTH JAVA
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 14113-9712
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name KING WILLIAM A
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City NORTH JAVA
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 14113-9712
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 5NK9
Departure City East Aurora
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1620
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 5NK9
Destination City East Aurora
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 11 2013 2:47PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 1530
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --