Cessna 150G N3729J

Summary

On 27 February 1998 at about 17:30 local time, a Cessna 150G registered N3729J, operated by Ryan M. Vestal, was involved in an accident near Lonoke, Arkansas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 February 1998 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Lonoke, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Sendero Airpark (1AR9)

Coordinates

34.7798, -91.8901

Aircraft

Cessna 150G

Registration

N3729J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Ryan M. Vestal

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

N. Little Rock → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW98LA135

Nobody was injured.

the flight instructor's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and his delayed decision to abort the takeoff. A factor relating to the accident was: the soft/wet area on the turf runway.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor (CFI) elected to take the student to the Sendero Airpark to give the student a chance to experience an 'actual' soft field landing and takeoff. Utilizing the soft field landing technique, the student pilot executed a successful landing on runway 30. For the departure from the airstrip, the CFI stated that he pointed out the pros and cons of the obstacles surrounding the airstrip and elected to depart from runway 12, which was also a customary local procedure at the airstrip. The airplane was configured for a soft field takeoff from the 2,200 foot grass airstrip. During the takeoff roll, the wheels of the airplane encountered a 'very wet and soft spot on the grass runway,' and the airplane decelerated abruptly. The CFI took control of the airplane and closed the throttle to abort the takeoff; however, the airplane overran the end of the airstrip, impacted a drainage ditch, and nosed over. The CFI added that he was not aware that the area had been subjected to heavy thunderstorms and hail the day before the accident. He also stated that 'he hesitated for 3 to 5 seconds before making the decision to abort.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.