Accident
On June 4, 2010, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182P, registration N111VP, operated by Sky King Aviation, Inc., crashed into trees following an aborted takeoff from Rainelle Airport (WV30) in Rainelle, West Virginia. The certificated private pilot and three passengers sustained serious injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
Narrative
According to the pilot, the airplane landed on the turf runway at WV30 at about 1000. Upon exiting the airplane, the pilot observed that the grass was above the wheel pants and the ground was wet and soft. The pilot stated that they were at the airport for approximately 45 minutes. After completing a preflight inspection, the pilot taxied to the south end of the runway, performed the pre-takeoff checklist, and began the takeoff roll. Approximately three-quarters of the way down the runway, the airplane did not have sufficient speed to lift off and climb above the trees at the runway's end. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff rather than lift off and stall the airplane. The airplane went off the end of the runway, down an embankment, and collided with trees.
The pilot-rated passenger in the right front seat reported that during the initial ground roll, the grass strip had a slight uphill slope and the airplane seemed to slow down. After the airplane reached about 60 knots, the pilot decided to abort the takeoff and reduced power. The pilot then reapplied power to attempt a second takeoff, but about two-thirds down the runway, the pilot aborted the takeoff again and applied the brakes. The airplane did not stop and slid into the trees.
Examination
Examination of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed the airplane resting at the base of some trees, with both wings and the fuselage substantially damaged. The inspector stated that during the takeoff roll on runway 35, the pilot attempted to become airborne, was unable to do so, and left the end of the runway into trees and down a slope 40 feet into a heavily wooded ravine. The grass runway had been mowed one week earlier but was soggy in areas due to rain earlier in the week.
The pilot stated that the engine appeared to operate normally, but the airplane bogged down in spots as it moved down the grass runway. The runway was 3300 feet in length. Main landing gear skid marks from braking appeared 375 feet prior to where the airplane entered the trees. The airplane's elevator trim was set to 5 degrees nose down, and the flaps were set to 10 degrees. At the conclusion of an engine and airframe examination, no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction was found.