Event NYC95LA061

Factual narrative

On Friday, February 24, 1995 about 0635 eastern standard time (est), a Cessna 172M, N13229, piloted by Keith C. McMurtry, was substantially damaged during takeoff at Buffalo Airfield, West Seneca, New York. The pilot and two passengers received no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed for the flight being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that he received a weather briefing about 0500 for a local flight at 0630. The purpose of the flight was to conduct a traffic report with two WDR radio employees. The pilot used runway 24, a 66 foot wide runway for takeoff. The pilot stated the runway conditions were ice covered with poor braking action, so he performed soft field takeoff procedures, including 10 degrees of flaps, to lift off the ground as soon as possible. During the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left of the runway, and the pilot corrected to the right with full right rudder and full right aileron. The left main gear struck a snow bank and the airplane turned to the left and nosed over. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector's statement of an interview with the pilot stated, "...[The pilot] did not attempt to abort the takeoff because he thought he could lift off prior to [veering off] the side of the runway." At Greater Buffalo International, 4 miles south, the winds were reported from 280 degrees at 20 knots with gusts up to 25 knots. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE USED RUNWAY 24, A 66-FOOT-WIDE RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF. THE RUNWAY WAS ICE COVERED AND BRAKING ACTION WAS POOR, SO HE PERFORMED SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF TECHNIQUES, TO MINIMIZE THE TIME ON THE RUNWAY. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT, AND THE PILOT CORRECTED TO THE RIGHT WITH FULL RIGHT RUDDER AND FULL RIGHT AILERON. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR STRUCK A SNOW BANK AND THE AIRPLANE TURNED TO THE LEFT AND NOSED OVER. THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR'S STATEMENT OF AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PILOT STATED, '[THE PILOT] DID NOT ATTEMPT TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE COULD LIFT OFF PRIOR TO [VEERING OFF] THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.' AT GREATER BUFFALO INTERNATIONAL, 4 MILES SOUTH, THE WINDS WERE REPORTED FROM 280 DEGREES AT 20 KNOTS GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12