On July 16, 2001, a Cessna 152 (registration N46326) was involved in an aviation accident near Haines, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff due to entering a rut on an uncompleted roadway surface. 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 lost directional control during takeoff from an unfinished roadway when the left main gear entered a rut, causing the aircraft to strike a stump.
What happened
The pilot reported that he landed on an uncompleted section of roadway where his company was conducting work. During the subsequent takeoff roll, the airplane's left main landing gear tire entered a rut in the surface. The pilot stated that he overcorrected for this deviation, which resulted in a loss of directional control. Consequently, the aircraft departed the side of the runway and struck a stump with its horizontal stabilizer.
Findings
The incident was primarily attributed to the pilot's decision to operate on an unfinished surface and his subsequent reaction to the uneven terrain. The entry of the left main landing gear tire into a rut disrupted normal ground handling, leading to the loss of control. The collision with the stump caused damage to the horizontal stabilizer.
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff due to entering a rut on an uncompleted roadway surface.