Sweetwater (Usmc) Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wellington, Nevada 89444
Thursday, May 22, 2014 10:30 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll on a wet dirt airstrip, the airplane reached rotation speed quickly but indicated no further speed. The pilot felt the main gear impact softer areas on either side while keeping the airplane under control just prior to lifting off. The airplane was airborne briefly then settled back down. As the airplane was approaching the departure end of the runway where the surface slopes down it became airborne. The pilot reported that he turned toward lower terrain and attempted to follow the airport access road but failed to maintain aircraft control. The airplane did not attain sufficient altitude and collided with a fence and nosed over. The wings, vertical stabilizer and rudder were substantially damaged. 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 failure to maintain aircraft control while departing from a wet runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/22/2014
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Wellington
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89444
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 383058N
Event Location Longitude 1191253W
Event Location Airport SWEETWATER (USMC)
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NV72
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 322
Airport Elevation 6837
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1656 Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 23
Weather Observation Facility ID KNFL
Elevation of weather observation facility 3934
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 59
Time Zone of the weather observation UTC
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.12
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KNFL 221656Z 25004KT 10SM SCT027 SCT035 13/0
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 33111
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC-Seattle, WA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 5 2014 1:44PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2068Z
NTSB Number WPR14CA204
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150C
Aircraft Series Identifier C
Aircraft Serial Number 15059868
Certified Max Gross Weight 1499
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 23 2014 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 100
Airframe Hours 6873
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THOMPSON JEFFREY A
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City BISHOP
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 935147078
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name THOMPSON JEFFREY A
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City BISHOP
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 935147078
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 NV72
Departure City Wellington
Departure State NV
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BIH
Destination City BISHOP
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 5 2014 1:45PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 3700
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --