No fatalities

31 Aug 2009: CESSNA 152 — KEITER KENNETH A — Harrisburg, PA

Harrisburg, PA, United States

On 31 Aug 2009, a CESSNA 152 operated by KEITER KENNETH A was involved in an aviation accident near Harrisburg, PA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot’s delayed decision to abort the takeoff, resulting in an overrun. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot aborted a takeoff on a short grass runway during landing practice, overrunning the departure end and coming to rest in a bean field, resulting in substantial damage.

Overview

A student pilot was practicing full-stop landings on a short, grass runway. During the second takeoff, the pilot became dissatisfied with the airplane's rate of climb and decided to abort the takeoff approximately two-thirds of the way down the runway.

Sequence of Events

After aborting the takeoff, the pilot touched down and the airplane overran the departure end of the runway. It came to rest in a bean field adjacent to the runway.

Damage

Substantial damage was sustained to the nose gear, firewall, fuselage, and propeller.

Commentary

The student pilot's certified flight instructor (CFI) commented that the runway's length and surface "doesn’t allow for mistakes." The student pilot stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.

Contributing factors

Student pilot