On May 28, 1990, a Cessna 152 (registration N4754B) operated by Douglas Alston was involved in an aviation accident near Bad Axe, MI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF WITH SUFFICIENT RUNWAY TO STOP THE AIRCRAFT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT IS A LACK OF TOTAL FLYING EXPERIENCE. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During a soft field takeoff attempt from a wet grass strip, the aircraft became airborne, settled back, then slid when brakes were applied. The pilot added power but struck a roadway berm and flipped into a ditch. No injuries occurred.
Incident Details
The incident occurred during a takeoff attempt from a wet grass runway. The pilot intended to perform a soft field takeoff procedure.
Sequence of Events
According to the investigation, the aircraft lifted off the ground briefly but then settled back onto the runway surface. After the aircraft settled, the pilot decided to abort the takeoff. When the brakes were applied, the aircraft began to slide on the wet grass. The pilot then increased engine power in an effort to become airborne again. The aircraft subsequently struck a roadway berm located off the departure end of the runway. The impact caused the aircraft to flip over into a ditch on the opposite side of the runway.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained substantial damage as a result of the accident. However, neither the pilot nor the passenger reported any injuries.