BALDWIN CITY, KS, USA
N184BD
Mahler BD-4
The pilot said he was taking off on runway 16 and was using the left side of the runway. He stated the airplane drifted further to the left side of the runway, exited the left side of the runway, and entered tall grass. He said the grass was three foot high. He said the left wing tip contacted the ground and the nose gear buckled. He stated the airplane skidded to a stop approximately 100 feet to the left of the runway. At 1454, the Lawrence Municipal Airport weather observation was: Wind 160 degrees at 8 knots.
On June 26, 1999, at 1515 central daylight time, a Mahler BD-4, N184BD, piloted by a private pilot received substantial damage on impact with terrain during an attempted takeoff from runway 16 (3,220 feet X 80 feet dry turf/gravel) at Vinland Valley Aerodrome Airport, Baldwin City, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not on a flight plan. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and with an intended destination of Ottawa Municipal Airport, Ottawa, Kansas. In his written statement, the pilot said that he was taking off on runway 16 and was using the left side of the runway. He stated that midway down the runway, the airplane drifted further to the left side of the runway, exited the left side of the runway, and entered tall grass. He said that the grass was three feet high. He said that the left wing tip contacted the ground and the nose gear buckled. He stated that the airplane skidded to a stop approximately 100 feet to the left of the runway. At 1454, the Lawrence Municipal Airport weather observation was: Wind 160 degrees at 8 knots.
The pilot not maintaining directional control with the runway centerline during takeoff. A factor was the high vegetation off the left side of the runway.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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