N5255C

On June 24, 1998, at 1209 central daylight time, a Cessna T310R, N5255C, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted airport signs, following a loss of control during takeoff from runway 30R (4397' x 50', concrete, dry) at the Palwaukee Municipal Airport, Wheeling, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight had an instrument flight plan on file. The pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident with the intended destination of Westmoreland County Airport, Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

According to the pilot's written statement, he was cleared for takeoff on runway 30R. The aircraft accelerated down the centerline to approximately 85 knots when the pilot started to rotate. The pilot stated that at rotation the aircraft began to drift off the right side of the runway. The pilot aborted the takeoff, closed the throttles, and applied brake pressure. The aircraft impacted two airport signs before coming to a stop. The pilot stated that he then contacted the tower and request to taxi back to the ramp. The aircraft was able to taxi to the ramp without assistance.

Post accident investigation show that there was substantial damage to the nose section of the aircraft. The aircraft also suffered minor damage to the left wing-tip tank, left cowl flap, left engine nacelle, and one of the de-ice boots on the left propeller. Winds reported at the Palwaukee Airport, 16 minutes prior to the accident, were from 210 degrees at 9 knots.

The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented or minimized had "...I closed the throttles sooner when struck by the gust and pushed my nose gear back on the ground to try and regain some directional control."