No fatalities

Pilot Aborts Takeoff After Airspeed Indicator Stalls at 40 Knots; Debris Found in Pitot Tube

Mackinac Island, MI, United States

On August 5, 2013, a CESSNA 182T operated by GREATER FLINT PILOTS ASSOCIATION INC was involved in an aviation accident near Mackinac Island, MI. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's delayed response to abort the takeoff, which resulted in an excursion and collision with a fence. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to check the pitot tube for debris during preflight. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

During takeoff roll, the airspeed indicator remained at 40 knots despite normal acceleration. The pilot aborted halfway down the runway but could not stop on wet surface, striking a fence and damaging the right elevator. Examination revealed debris in the pitot tube, which lacked a cover.

Incident

The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, the airplane appeared and felt to accelerate normally, but the airspeed indicator never rose above 40 knots. The pilot aborted the takeoff when the airplane was halfway down the runway. He applied brakes to decelerate, but the airplane skidded on the wet runway. The pilot was unable to stop before the airplane departed the runway and collided with a wood fence.

Damage

The collision resulted in substantial damage to the right elevator.

Examination

After the incident, examination of the airplane revealed that the pitot tube was filled with debris. According to the operator, the airplane was not equipped with a pitot tube cover.

Contributing factors

Pilot