On February 20, 1991, a Cessna 152 (registration N116CF) operated by Cushing was involved in an aviation accident near Newark, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to attempt a takeoff on a wet turf runway with a tailwind, which led to the abort and subsequent impact with a fence and ditch. 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.
A pilot aborted a takeoff attempt on a wet turf runway due to a tailwind condition. During the subsequent landing roll, the aircraft impacted a fence and entered a ditch.
What happened
The aircraft attempted to depart from Runway 36, which was characterized as a wet turf surface. Conditions included a tailwind component during the departure phase. The pilot elected to abort the takeoff operation. During the ensuing landing roll, the aircraft departed the runway environment and impacted a fence before coming to rest in a ditch.
Findings
A weather reporting station located 17 miles to the northeast of the accident site provided data approximately 45 minutes prior to the event. The report indicated wind conditions from 230 degrees at 14 knots. These environmental factors contributed to the decision to abort the takeoff and the subsequent loss of directional control or runway excursion.
Safety message
Operating on wet turf runways with tailwinds presents significant challenges for aircraft performance and stopping distance. Pilots must carefully evaluate wind components and surface conditions before committing to a takeoff or during an aborted departure.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to attempt a takeoff on a wet turf runway with a tailwind, which led to the abort and subsequent impact with a fence and ditch.