No fatalities

18 Aug 2020: Cessna 140 — Olustee, OK

Olustee, OK, United States

On 18 Aug 2020, a Cessna 140 Undesignat was involved in an aviation accident near Olustee, OK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to attempt a takeoff from the middle of the runway in shifting wind conditions, which resulted in an aborted takeoff and runway excursion. 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

After landing on a 2,000 ft runway, a pilot attempted a takeoff with only 1,000 ft remaining. A sudden wind shift hindered the climb, leading to a runway excursion, fence collision, and nose-over, causing substantial damage.

Accident Overview

A pilot and a single passenger had just completed a landing on a 2,000-foot runway and brought the aircraft to a full stop. The pilot then initiated a takeoff roll, but with only about 1,000 feet of runway remaining.

Takeoff Attempt

During the takeoff roll, near the end of the runway, the pilot felt a sudden wind shift from the left rear. He attempted to get the airplane airborne before the runway ended but was unsuccessful. The aircraft continued off the end of the runway and struck a fence.

Aftermath

The airplane nosed over into a field. The fuselage and empennage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.

Pilot's Report

The pilot stated that he should have utilized the entire runway for the takeoff.

Contributing factors

Causes

Pilot

Other contributing factors

Decision related to conditionEffect on operation