Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Concord, Wisconsin 53178
Saturday, August 24, 2013 14:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was attempting to depart from a 1,800-foot-long turf runway at the time of the accident. He noted that the grass was about 4 inches high and the ambient temperature was about 84 degrees F. The pilot stated that takeoff acceleration was slow and, when the airplane did not lift off within 200 feet of the expected point, he decided to abort the takeoff. He subsequently realized that he would not be able to stop the airplane on the remaining runway and intentionally veered to the left to avoid trees. The airplane encountered a soybean field and a small tree during the runway excursion. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He noted that the airplane weight was near the maximum certificated takeoff gross weight and commented that he should have more closely factored the effect of density altitude on the operation. The airport elevation was 833 feet, and the associated density altitude was about 2,070 feet. The airplane owner's handbook provided takeoff data applicable to a hard surfaced runway with a 20-degree flap setting. From a hard surface runway, at 2,500 feet mean sea level, an ambient temperature of about 81 degrees F, and calm wind, the expected ground roll would be about 750 feet. The investigation revealed that the pilot did not configure the airplane for a maximum performance takeoff as specified in the owner's handbook. The pilot attempted the accident takeoff with a 10-degree flap deflection instead of a 20-degree flap deflection, as specified. In addition, available takeoff performance data were only applicable to a hard-surfaced runway; takeoff data were not available for a turf runway. The takeoff from a turf runway and the improper flap setting, as well as the elevated density altitude that day, would be expected to increase the takeoff ground roll.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to properly plan for a maximum performance takeoff by not fully addressing the elevated density altitude or the nonstandard runway surface conditions and his failure to properly configure the airplane's flap setting for the accident takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/24/2013
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1445
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Concord
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53178
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 431011N
Event Location Longitude 0884323W
Event Location Airport Private
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 843
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1415 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 315
Weather Observation Facility ID RYV
Elevation of weather observation facility 833
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
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) 30.22
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 1
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31892
NTSB Notification Source FAA -- AGL ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 12 2013 4:13PM
User who most recently changed record sort
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5131D
NTSB Number CEN13LA503
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 182A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 51231
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
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 Sep 17 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2166
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Pilot/Owner
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Sullivan
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 53178
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Pilot/Owner
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Sullivan
Operator State WI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 53178
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 PVT
Departure City Concord
Departure State WI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1445
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code C17
Destination City Marion
Destination State IA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 12 2013 2:53PM
User who most recently changed record sort
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 09
Runway Length 1800
Runway Width 80
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --