No fatalities

Aborted Takeoff Leads to Runway Excursion and Fence Impact

South St. Paul, MN, United States

On July 12, 2015, a CESSNA 340 operated by Petrojet Services Group, LLC was involved in an aviation accident near South St. Paul, MN. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The airplane's inability to takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. The aborted takeoff resulted in a runway overrun and impact with a fence. 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

A pilot aborted takeoff on a 4,002-foot runway after feeling the airplane could not climb. The airplane exited the runway, skidded on dew-covered grass, and struck a fence, causing substantial damage.

Incident Overview

A pilot reported that during departure on runway 16 under an instrument flight rules flight plan, he decided to abort the takeoff after traveling approximately two-thirds of the 4,002-foot runway. The decision was based on his perception that the airplane was unable to climb and continue to accelerate.

Sequence of Events

During the aborted takeoff, the airplane departed the runway surface and entered the grass overrun area. The grass was covered with wet dew from the morning environmental conditions. Despite the pilot's attempt to stop the airplane, it skidded and subsequently impacted a fence.

Damage and Examination

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right main wing spar and fuselage. A post-incident examination of the airplane revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.

Contributing factors

Causes

PilotAttain/maintain not possible

Other contributing factors

Ability to respond/compensate

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 12 Jul 2015 CESSNA 340 accident near South St. Paul, MN?

A pilot aborted takeoff on a 4,002-foot runway after feeling the airplane could not climb. The airplane exited the runway, skidded on dew-covered grass, and struck a fence, causing substantial damage.

Were there any fatalities in the 12 Jul 2015 CESSNA 340 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 12 Jul 2015 involved a CESSNA 340, operated by Petrojet Services Group, LLC, at South St. Paul, MN.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The airplane's inability to takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. The aborted takeoff resulted in a runway overrun and impact with a fence.