Cessna 152 N24264 accident near Ormond Beach, Florida

Probable cause

The pilot's improper decision to take off again after a successful abort due to diminished airplane climb performance. Contributing to the accident was carburetor icing during the taxi, which resulted in the loss of engine performance.

NTSB analysis

The pilot took off in calm wind conditions, and, although he reported that pretakeoff checks were normal, he did not believe that the airplane was climbing properly after liftoff. Air traffic control tower personnel observed the airplane lift off and touch down twice before running off the end of the runway. The airplane came to rest about 625 feet beyond the end of the runway. The pilot recognized a loss of airplane performance during the initial takeoff and successfully landed the airplane back on the runway. However, instead of stopping the airplane, the pilot took off again, which then put the airplane in a position where a second aborted takeoff could only result in a runway overrun. Postaccident examination revealed no preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations, and flight instructors who flew the airplane during its two previous flights noted no discrepancies during those flights. The ambient temperature and dew point about the time of the accident indicated a probability of carburetor ice accumulation during taxi, and the carburetor heat was found in the off position.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA12LA525 for the full record.