Probable cause
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain to take off after making a precautionary landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot performed a precautionary landing to a field due to a rough running engine. After the landing, he decided that the airplane was airworthy, and attempted to take off from a nearby gravel road. During the takeoff roll, the airplane's left wing dragged in the high grass that bordered both sides of the road which caused the airplane to cartwheel approximately 180 degrees. The landing gear span on the airplane was approximately 8 feet, the road was approximately 15 feet wide, and the wingspan was about 25 feet.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN11CA400 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jun 18, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Charleston, Illinois
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Waco Classic Aircraft YMF-F5C
- N-number
- N113KJ
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.