N140RE

On April 28, 2000, at 1215 central daylight time, a Cessna 140, tailwheel equipped airplane, N140RE, struck a taxiway sign during the takeoff roll on runway 13 at the Richard Lloyd Jones Jr. Airport, near Tulsa, Oklahoma. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual. The private pilot and his pilot rated passenger were not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal local flight, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91 flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll, the airplane drifted to the right side of the runway, and he reduced the power to abort the takeoff. However, upon noticing that the airplane was heading toward a taxiway sign, he added full power in an attempt to fly over the sign. The airplane did not become airborne, so the pilot veered the airplane to the left in an attempt to avoid the sign. The right horizontal stabilizer struck the sign, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot stated that the winds were from 090 degrees at 8 knots. The automated surface observing system (ASOS) reported the wind from 100 degrees at 7 knots.

FAA inspectors and an aircraft mechanic examined the airplane on May 3, 2000. The right horizontal stabilizer was bent, and the right wing spar was twisted. No mechanical discrepancies were reported.