N37148

Substantial
Minor

BEECH 77S/N: WA-188

Accident Details

Date
Monday, July 4, 2011
NTSB Number
ERA11CA378
Location
Jonesville, VA
Event ID
20110706X70339
Coordinates
36.650001, -83.216667
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N37148
Make
BEECH
Serial Number
WA-188
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1980
Model / ICAO
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
THORBURN-GUNDLACH DAVID
Address
15835 WESTBROOK RD STE D-1206
Status
Deregistered
City
ALPHARETTA
State / Zip Code
GA 30004-2830
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot reported that she was attempting to take off from a cow pasture. She landed the airplane in the pasture the previous day due to a loss of engine power. She reported that the loss of power was due to debris in the right fuel tank, which was subsequently removed by a mechanic. She measured the length of the field and found it "shorter than our typical requirement," but elected to continue with the flight due to the downhill slope of the field. The owner of the pasture mowed a path for the takeoff and the pilot and her husband inspected the takeoff area for rocks and other obstructions. She also determined a "no-go" point on the ground in case the airplane did not accelerate adequately. She removed all unnecessary items from the airplane and prepared for takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the airplane did not accelerate as expected. She aborted the takeoff past the designated no-go point and was unable to stop the airplane before it collided with a fence post. The airplane caught fire as the pilot was exiting the cockpit. Structural damage to the left wing and fuselage resulted. The pilot received second-degree burns. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies during the takeoff roll. Although she had previously practiced soft-field takeoffs on paved runways, she had no experience with actual soft-field takeoffs.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA11CA378