Incident Overview
On April 17, 2009, at 16:40 SELČ (14:40 UTC), a Cessna F152 with registration OK-LEV was involved in an accident at Prague Letňany airport (LKLT). The aircraft, operated by Flying Academy s.r.o., overturned onto its back during a failed takeoff attempt. Both the pilot and the passenger exited the aircraft without sustaining injuries.
Operational Context
The pilot intended to conduct a navigation flight with a passenger from LKLT to Chotěboř (LKCT) and return. As the Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS) at Letňany was not active, the pilot contacted the Tower at Prague Kbely (LKKB) on 120.875 MHz for weather information and clearance. The flight was conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
Sequence of Events
The pilot performed pre-takeoff checks at the holding point for Runway 05R and initiated the takeoff roll. After covering approximately two-thirds of the runway length, the aircraft failed to become airborne. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff and applied brakes intensively. However, the aircraft could not be stopped on the paved surface and rolled into the grassy area beyond the runway end.
Damage and Cause
Upon entering the uneven terrain in the overrun area, the nose gear struck a ground irregularity. This impact caused the aircraft to roll over its propeller onto its back. The investigation noted extensive damage to the airframe, including deformation of the fuselage, wing structure failures, and tail assembly damage. The engine and propeller were not inspected for internal damage at the time of the report.
Meteorological Conditions
Weather conditions at the time included winds from 230° at 10 knots, visibility between 5 and 7 km in rain, and overcast skies with a ceiling around 4,500 ft. The calculated takeoff distance required for the conditions was approximately 384.8 meters, while the total distance including the aborted roll and stop was estimated at 821.3 meters.