Summary
On April 21, 2018, a Cessna 120 (N1807V) was involved in an incident near Iola, WI. 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 decision to reject the takeoff from a snow-covered grass surface, which resulted in a nose-over.
According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane with 26" bush tires installed, his intent was to perform several ground runs to pack the wet snow-covered grass surface, and then takeoff.
During the start of the first ground run, the airplane accelerated quickly, and the pilot decided to takeoff. He reported that he did not realize the airplane had become airborne, rather, he believed that the airplane had entered an area of deeper snow, and he "thought it would be safer and more conservative to stop."
The pilot decreased the throttle to idle, the airplane decelerated and nosed over.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut.
This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA18CA221. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N1807V.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s decision to reject the takeoff from a snow-covered grass surface, which resulted in a nose-over.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
According to the pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane with 26" bush tires installed, his intent was to perform several ground runs to pack the wet snow-covered grass surface, and then takeoff.
During the start of the first ground run, the airplane accelerated quickly, and the pilot decided to takeoff. He reported that he did not realize the airplane had become airborne, rather, he believed that the airplane had entered an area of deeper snow, and he "thought it would be safer and more conservative to stop."
The pilot decreased the throttle to idle, the airplane decelerated and nosed over.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing lift strut.
Per the National Transportation Safety Board, Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, in the Recommendation section, the pilot asserted that the accident could have been prevented if he had, "assumed that the conditions were unacceptable as I could not ascertain with absolute certainty that the surface was acceptable."
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA18CA221