What happened
The incident occurred when a private pilot elected to abort a takeoff attempt from an abandoned roadway. The decision to cancel the takeoff was made approximately at the mid-point of a 4,000-foot gravel section of the road. Despite the pilot's efforts to stop, the aircraft continued moving forward.
The brakes applied during the abort caused the wheels to slide rather than grip the surface effectively. Consequently, the pilot was unable to bring the aircraft to a halt within the remaining distance. The available stopping distance was reduced to one-quarter mile after the decision to abort was made. Unable to stop in time, the aircraft departed the roadway and entered an area of brush and small trees.
The investigation
Examination of the event focused on the pilot's actions and the performance of the braking system during the aborted takeoff. The primary finding was that the brakes caused the wheels to slide, preventing effective deceleration on the gravel surface. This loss of traction contributed directly to the inability to stop within the remaining distance.
Findings
The sequence of events highlights a critical failure in stopping capability during an emergency abort. The pilot's decision point at the mid-way stage left insufficient distance to recover from the brake-induced skid. The combination of the gravel surface and the sliding wheels resulted in the aircraft overrunning the usable runway length.
Safety message
Pilots operating from unimproved or abandoned surfaces must carefully evaluate stopping distances during aborted takeoffs. Brake performance on loose gravel can be significantly reduced, leading to wheel slide and loss of directional control. Adequate margins for error are essential when selecting abort points on non-paved runways.