Casualties unknown

Pilot Struck Trees During Takeoff From Grass Strip (N22197)

Ashland, ME, US

On August 23, 1991, a Cessna 150 (registration N22197) operated by Garry Nelson, Sr. was involved in an aviation accident near Ashland, ME. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to continue the takeoff after striking a hump on the grass strip, which led to an encounter with trees and a subsequent forced landing. 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.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot attempting to continue a takeoff after striking a hump on a grass strip hit trees and landed in a field, causing the aircraft to nose over.

What happened

The incident occurred during the departure phase of flight from an unimproved grass strip. As the aircraft accelerated for takeoff, the pilot encountered a significant hump on the runway surface. This obstruction caused the airplane to become airborne prematurely, before reaching the intended rotation speed or altitude.

Attempting to maintain the climb profile and continue the takeoff, the pilot flew toward a line of trees. The aircraft struck these trees during the initial climb segment. Following this impact, the pilot was forced to execute an emergency landing in an adjacent open field.

The terrain of the landing site proved challenging for the recovery attempt. The ground in the field was soft, which affected the structural integrity of the landing gear upon touchdown. Specifically, the nose gear sank deeply into the soft earth during ground contact. This loss of support caused the aircraft to pitch forward violently, resulting in a nosing-over maneuver that left the airplane in an inverted position.

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to continue the takeoff after striking a hump on the grass strip, which led to an encounter with trees and a subsequent forced landing.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X17968. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.