Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. LAKE LA-4-200 N8001J accident near New Castle, Virginia

Probable cause

The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a collision with terrain.

NTSB analysis

According to the pilot, the airplane was accelerating normally during the takeoff roll into a 6- to 8-knot headwind. About halfway down the turf runway, the airplane became airborne and then settled back onto the runway. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff and reduced power while applying the brakes. He realized that the airplane would not be able to stop prior to impacting a berm located at the end of the runway and added full power. The airplane cleared the berm, crossed a dirt road, and impacted a tree and several boulders before coming to rest in a pond. The pilot stated that it had rained earlier in the day and that the runway might have still been damp. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA10CA497 for the full record.