Summary
On April 19, 2003, a Cessna 170B (N118F) was involved in an incident near Randolph, NY. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to attain/maintain proper runway alignment. A factor in the accident was the sun glare.
On April 19, 2003, at 1900 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N118F, was substantially damaged when it impacted a tree during an attempted takeoff at Randolph Airport (D85), Randolph, New York. The certificated private pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he was attempting to take off to the west, with the intention of flight in the local traffic pattern. He stated that the setting sun obscured his vision during the takeoff, and approximately 400 feet into the takeoff roll, the airplane's left wing clipped a tree. The airplane then swerved to the left, the pilot applied the brakes, and the airplane nosed over.
This incident is documented in NTSB report IAD03LA047. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N118F.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to attain/maintain proper runway alignment. A factor in the accident was the sun glare.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On April 19, 2003, at 1900 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 170B, N118F, was substantially damaged when it impacted a tree during an attempted takeoff at Randolph Airport (D85), Randolph, New York. The certificated private pilot was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he was attempting to take off to the west, with the intention of flight in the local traffic pattern. He stated that the setting sun obscured his vision during the takeoff, and approximately 400 feet into the takeoff roll, the airplane's left wing clipped a tree. The airplane then swerved to the left, the pilot applied the brakes, and the airplane nosed over.
The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane, and noted that he was aligned "too far south of the centerline" during the takeoff.
The pilot described the runway as a 100-foot-wide by 2,400-foot-long turf strip aligned along an east-west heading, with trees that bordered the runway's south side, effectively narrowing the runway to 90 feet in some places.
Weather conditions reported at Jamestown, 17 miles east of the accident site, at 1855, included winds from 170 degrees true at 7 knots and clear skies.
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the left wing spar.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# IAD03LA047