Summary
On September 22, 2010, a Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. LAKE LA-4-200 (N8001J) was involved in an accident near New Castle, VA. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury, with 1 person uninjured out of 2 aboard. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
According to the pilot, all indications were in the "normal range," and the airplane was accelerating normally during the takeoff roll into a 6- to 8-knot headwind. About halfway down the 2,400-foot turf runway, the airplane attained "2/3 flying speed," and between that point and the end of the runway, it became airborne, then settled back onto the runway. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff, and reduced power and applied braking, but then realized that the airplane would not be able to stop prior to impacting a berm located at the end of the runway. He added full power, and the airplane cleared the berm, crossed a dirt road, impacted a tree and some boulders, and came to rest in a pond. The pilot stated that it had rained earlier in the day and the runway might have still been damp.
This accident is documented in NTSB report ERA10CA497. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N8001J.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a collision with terrain.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
According to the pilot, all indications were in the "normal range," and the airplane was accelerating normally during the takeoff roll into a 6- to 8-knot headwind. About halfway down the 2,400-foot turf runway, the airplane attained "2/3 flying speed," and between that point and the end of the runway, it became airborne, then settled back onto the runway. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff, and reduced power and applied braking, but then realized that the airplane would not be able to stop prior to impacting a berm located at the end of the runway. He added full power, and the airplane cleared the berm, crossed a dirt road, impacted a tree and some boulders, and came to rest in a pond. The pilot stated that it had rained earlier in the day and the runway might have still been damp. The pilot also stated that he "did not detect any mechanical malfunctions."
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA10CA497