BFO94LA059

Factual narrative

On April 2, 1994, at 1415 eastern standard time, a Gulfstream American AA-5B, struck a snowbank during takeoff on runway 24 at Oneonta Municipal Airport, Oneonta, New York. The student pilot was not injured while the airplane sustained substantial damage. The instructional flight was being operated under 14 CFR 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll as he was about to rotate, the airplane started to veer to the left. He stated that he applied right rudder, but he was unsuccessful. The pilot stated that he continued to apply right rudder and right brake, but the airplane continued to veer off the left side of the runway and struck a snowbank. The pilot stated that he believed there was a problem with the left wheel or brake. An FAA Aviation Safety Inspector examined the airplane after the accident and reported that there was no mechanical malfunction. He stated that the winds at the time of the accident were 150 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 20 knots. THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AS HE WAS ABOUT TO LIFT OFF, THE AIRPLANE VEERED LEFT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, DESPITE USING RIGHT RUDDER/BRAKE. THE AIRPLANE OVERRAN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A SNOWBANK. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT WHEEL OR BRAKE. AN FAA AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR WHO EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THERE WAS A 90 DEGREE LEFT CROSSWIND AT 14 KTS WITH GUSTS TO 20 KTS, AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12