Overview
On January 6, 2015, at approximately 1545 central standard time, a Cessna 195B, registration N2125C, impacted terrain during takeoff from Llano Municipal Airport in Llano, Texas. The aircraft was operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the cross-country flight that was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged.
Event Narrative
The pilot reported that, as the tail wheel lifted off the runway, the engine lost power. The engine transitioned from full power to idle, and the pilot believed the engine had quit. The airplane pitched forward, and the propeller struck the asphalt runway surface. The airplane then turned slightly to the right, departed the runway, and nosed over.
Post-Accident Findings
Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the accident site. They documented no fewer than 15 propeller marks in the runway pavement. Towards the end of the runway, a white scrape mark consistent with the lower engine cowling contacting the runway as the airplane slid along the pavement was noted. Tire tracks and propeller strikes were observed going off the right side of the runway into the dirt, ending at the location where the airplane nosed over. An inspection of the airplane revealed no anomalies with the controls, engine, or other systems.