No fatalities

1972-03-25: Beechcraft H18 (N24K) — Niles Machine — Marco Island, United States of America

Marco Island, United States of AmericaTakeoff (climb)

On March 25, 1972, a Beechcraft H18 (registration N24K) operated by Niles Machine was involved in an aviation accident near Marco Island, United States of America during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot failed to maintain directional control after a delayed action in aborting takeoff. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781234283Data APIEditorial standards

During takeoff roll, the pilot aborted the takeoff for an unknown reason. The twin-engine aircraft overran the runway, struck a concrete wall, and came to rest. Both occupants sustained minor injuries, and the airplane was destroyed.

Incident Overview

On an unspecified date, a twin-engine aircraft was conducting a takeoff roll at Marco Island Airport. During the roll, the pilot decided to abort the takeoff for reasons that were not reported. The aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining runway distance and overran the departure end.

Sequence of Events

After overrunning the runway, the aircraft collided with a small concrete wall before coming to rest. The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft, rendering it beyond economical repair. Both occupants (the pilot and presumably one passenger) sustained minor injuries.

Contributing Factors

Official investigation records noted several factors associated with the accident. Airport conditions included soft shoulders adjacent to the runway. The aircraft also collided with a 60-foot-wide canal, though the source does not specify whether this occurred before or after the wall strike. Additionally, wind conditions were reported as gusting to 10 knots at the time of the event.

Probable Cause

The official probable cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control after a delayed action in aborting the takeoff.