Cessna 140 N2812N accident near Plymouth, Connecticut

Probable cause

The plot’s failure to account sufficiently for the decrease in the airplane’s takeoff performance due to the wet turf runway, which resulted in a collision with a log barrier and subsequent nose over after aborting the takeoff.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was attempting a short field takeoff on a wet turf runway that was 2,005-ft-long. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, the tailwheel-equipped airplane would not climb into ground effect and felt as if the one of the wheels was on the ground. Recognizing that the airplane would not be able to accelerate in ground effect, the pilot attempted to abort the takeoff. As the airplane approached a log barrier at the departure end of the runway, the pilot attempted to ground loop the airplane, but the left main landing gear wheel slid on the wet grass. The airplane subsequently impacted the log barrier at low speed, nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing strut, vertical stabilizer, and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Based on the pilot’s description of the takeoff, it is likely that the wet runway condition reduced the airplane’s acceleration and resulted in the airplane not climbing into ground affect as otherwise expected during the takeoff from the relatively constrained turf runway.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA26LA021 for the full record.