Beech A23-24 N469JS accident near Windham, Connecticut

Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in a rejected takeoff and subsequent runway excursion.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was attempting to depart from a 2,799-ft-long runway. During the takeoff roll, he rejected the takeoff after the airplane had used about 2,100 ft of the runway and had not reached rotation speed. During the rejected takeoff, he reduced power and applied brakes but was unable to stop. The airplane exited the runway and traversed across the grass. He initiated a left turn in an attempt to avoid an airport perimeter fence, but the airplane impacted the fence and came to rest about 260 ft from the departure end of the runway. The airplane’s fuselage was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that he should not have attempted to depart from the shorter of the two available runways.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA25LA279 for the full record.