NTSB Factual Report

On June 4, 2010, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 182P, N111VP, registered to Sky King Aviation, Inc., crashed into trees following an aborted takeoff, from Rainelle Airport (WV30), Rainelle, West Virginia. The certificated private pilot and three passengers sustained serious injuries and the airplane received substantial damage. The flight was operated by the certificated private pilot as a personal flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

According to the pilot, they landed on the turf runway at WV30 at about 1000. When the pilot exited the airplane, he noticed that the grass was above the wheel pants and the ground was wet and soft. He stated that they were at the airport for about 45 minutes. He stated that following the pre-flight, he taxied to the south end of the runway. He completed the pre-take off check list and began the takeoff roll. Approximately three-quarters of the way down the runway the airplane did not have sufficient speed to lift off and climb above the trees at the end of the runway. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff rather than lift off and stall the airplane. The airplane went off the end of the runway down an embankment and collided with trees.

Examination of the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector found the airplane resting at the base of some trees with both wings and the fuselage substantially damaged. The inspector stated that during takeoff roll on runway 35, the pilot attempted to become airborne, was unable to do so, and left the end of the runway into trees and down a slope 40 feet into a heavily wooded ravine. The grass runway and had previously been mowed 1 week earlier, and was soggy in areas due to previous rain earlier in the week.

The pilot stated that the engine appeared to operate normally, but the airplane, bogged down in spots as it was moving down the grass runway. The runway was 3300 feet in length and the main landing gear skid marks from braking appear 375 feet prior to where the airplane entered the trees. The airplanes elevator trim was set to 5 degrees nose down and the flaps were set to 10 degrees.

According to the pilot rated passenger who occupied the right front seat; he stated that during the initial ground roll the grass strip had a slight uphill slope and the airplane seemed to slow down. After the airplane approached 60 knots, the pilot decided to abort the takeoff and reduced the power. He then reapplied power to initiate the takeoff again, but about two-thirds down the runway the pilot aborted the take off and applied the brakes. The airplane did not stop and slid into the trees. At the conclusion of the engine and airframe examination, no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction was found.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to adequately assess the runway conditions prior to attempting a takeoff and his failure to abort the takeoff in a timely manner resulting in an on-ground collision with trees.