NTSB CAROL · Event
Event CHI91LA020
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF (WHILE THERE WAS SUFFICIENT RUNWAY REMAINING).
Factual narrative
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM AN UPHILL SOD AIRSTRIP THAT WAS 1584' IN LENGTH. HE REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE ACCELERATED TO 60-65 MPH, BUT FAILED TO GAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO CLEAR THE TREES AT THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES IN A RAVINE NEAR THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP. AN INVESTIGATION AT THE SITE REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT APPEAR TO BECOME AIRBORNE UNTIL IT WENT OFF THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP. NO MECHANICAL DIFFICULTY WITH THE AIRPLANE WAS REPORTED. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE CALM. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1990_CHI91LA020.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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