CHESTER, CT, USA
N9412B
CESSNA 172RG
During the takeoff roll on a wet runway, the pilot elected to abort the takeoff because, the airplane 'accelerated slowly.' He attempted to stop the airplane by retarding the throttle to idle, applied maximum braking and back pressure on the yoke. The airplane did not stop, and departed the runway, just prior to the end, continued down a 30 foot embankment and struck trees. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions. According to an FAA inspector, the pilot's experience in this make and model airplane was as a flight instructor with 2 persons on board with less than full fuel. The inspector reported the airplane was at maximum gross weight, a condition that the pilot had never experienced.
On October 21, 1995, about 1950 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172RG, N9412B, collided with trees during an aborted takeoff at the Chester Airport, Chester, Connecticut. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan had been filed. The personal flight, with a final destination of Atlantic City, New Jersey, was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. During the takeoff roll on a wet runway, 2,566 feet long, 50 feet wide, the pilot elected to abort the takeoff. The pilot stated: ...I held the brakes while I applied full power...released the brakes. The aircraft accelerated slowly...[at] rotation speed I applied back pressure on the yoke...did not feel as if the airplane continued to accelerate...released back pressure momentarily...then applied back pressure again. It still did not feel like it was about to fly. I felt I should not continue the takeoff since I did not know what was wrong...retarded the throttle to idle...applied maximum braking and back pressure. The airplane seemed to hydroplane immediately and this continued until we departed the east side of the runway just prior to the runway end. According to the FAA Inspector's statement, "...the pilot could not stop [the] aircraft on the wet...runway and ran off the departure end...down a 30 ft. embankment and struck trees." The FAA Inspector stated that most of the pilot's experience in this make and model airplane was as a flight instructor with "only 2 persons on board with less than full fuel." This accident occurred at "maximum gross weight," a condition that the pilot "has never experienced." The FAA Inspector further stated, "...the pilot's decision to abort was too late for a...wet runway at night." The reported local weather was; 1,500 broken, visibility 5 mile, light rain, temperature 62 degrees F, wind 270 degrees at 8 knots. The pilot had a total of 2,294 flight hours, and 125 hours in this make and model airplane.
The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed, and his delay in aborting the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun and collision with trees. Factors relating to the accident were: the wet runway and hydroplaning conditions.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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