N6154Q

On May 27, 2001, at 1530 eastern standard time, a Cessna 152, N6154Q, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a takeoff from a gravel road near Patriot, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and passenger received no injuries. The flight was en route to the Blue Ash Airport, Cincinnati, Ohio.

The pilot reported that the main landing gear contacted the ground when the airplane was drifting off the edge of the takeoff area. He also stated that a quartering headwind was present during the takeoff attempt.

In a written statement, the pilot reported "Landed in farm field on gravel, 1800' straight, slightly inclined road. Uninhabited, no obstructions-landing was uneventful. Road was about 14' wide, with shallow ditch to the right. On take-off, with 10 [degrees] flaps, started roll, nose lifted. Left quartering gust pushed airplane to the right, right gear caught 6" grass [and] reduced forward momentum. Airplane veered into ditch [and] nosed over. Pre-mature liftoff [and] not enough left aileron input, together with gust contributed to end result."

The pilot also reported that his biennial flight review had expired.