Tall grass and soft ground may have been factors in the June 4 crash of a single-engine airplane that collided with trees during its takeoff roll on the grass runway at Rainelle Airport, according to a preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report on the accident.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Tall grass and soft ground may have been factors in the June 4 crash of a single-engine airplane that collided with trees during its takeoff roll on the grass runway at Rainelle Airport, according to a preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report on the accident.
According to the NTSB report, the Cessna 182P landed at the Greenbrier County airport at about 10 a.m. on the day of the accident.
"When the pilot exited the airplane he noticed that the grass was above the wheel pants [covers] and the ground was very wet," the report stated.
After completing a pre-flight checklist and taxiing to the south end of the runway, the pilot, Verone Peace of South Carolina, began his takeoff run.
According to the preliminary report, "Approximately three-quarters of the way down the runway the airplane did not have sufficient speed to lift off and climb above the trees at the end of the runway. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff rather than lift off and stall the airplane. The airplane went off the end of the runway, down an embankment, and collided with trees."
The airplane came to rest at the base of some trees, with both wings and the fuselage substantially damaged.
All four occupants of the airplane were injured, at least one of them seriously.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Tall grass and soft ground may have been factors in the June 4 crash of a single-engine airplane that collided with trees during its takeoff roll on the grass runway at Rainelle Airport, according to a preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report on the accident.
According to the NTSB report, the Cessna 182P landed at the Greenbrier County airport at about 10 a.m. on the day of the accident.
"When the pilot exited the airplane he noticed that the grass was above the wheel pants [covers] and the ground was very wet," the report stated.
After completing a pre-flight checklist and taxiing to the south end of the runway, the pilot, Verone Peace of South Carolina, began his takeoff run.
According to the preliminary report, "Approximately three-quarters of the way down the runway the airplane did not have sufficient speed to lift off and climb above the trees at the end of the runway. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff rather than lift off and stall the airplane. The airplane went off the end of the runway, down an embankment, and collided with trees."
The airplane came to rest at the base of some trees, with both wings and the fuselage substantially damaged.
All four occupants of the airplane were injured, at least one of them seriously.
