Casualties unknown

Wind Gust Leads to Runway Excursion and Overturn on Turf Strip (N4151F)

Middleville, NY, US

On May 4, 2002, a Piper PA-18-150 (registration N4151F) was involved in an aviation accident near Middleville, NY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain proper alignment with the runway after being struck by a gust of wind. Factors were the gusty winds and the berm struck by the airplane. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

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

A pilot rejected takeoff after a wind gust blew the airplane off the runway, striking a berm with a landing gear wheel and coming to rest inverted. The airport was on a hill with variable winds.

Incident Overview

A pilot reported that during a takeoff from a turf strip, the airplane became airborne while the wind was blowing down the runway. Shortly after becoming airborne, the airplane was struck by a gust of wind, which pushed it to the right and off the side of the runway.

Pilot Actions

The pilot initiated a correction to return to the runway. However, noting obstacles ahead, the pilot decided to reject the takeoff. During the rejected takeoff, the airplane struck a berm with a main landing gear wheel. The impact caused the aircraft to come to rest inverted.

Airport Conditions

An FAA inspector reported that the airport was located on top of a hill and was subject to variable winds. No further details were provided regarding weather or other environmental factors.

Damage

The aircraft sustained damage during the sequence of events, though specific details of the damage were not enumerated beyond the contact with the berm and the inverted position.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020508X00644. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.