Cessna 152 accident near Owensville, Missouri, June 2, 2003
On June 2, 2003, a Cessna 152, registered N68778, was substantially damaged in an accident near Owensville, Missouri (Winter Field Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots delayed attempt to perform an aborted takeoff and subsequent overrun. Contributing factors to the accident were the fence and the ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 2003
- Place
- Owensville, Missouri · Winter Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N68778 · no longer on the register · serial 15282372
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted a fence and a ditch after overrunning the runway on takeoff. The pilot reported he taxied the airplane onto the runway centerline and applied full power to the airplane's engine while holding the brakes. The pilot noted he released the brakes and the airplane began to roll. The pilot stated the airplane would not lift-off before 1/2 to 3/4 of the runway was used. The pilot reported he decided to execute an aborted takeoff and reduced engine power to idle and applied brakes. The pilot noted the airplane overran the end of the runway where it impacted a barbwire fence and a ditch. The pilot reported the airplane's loaded weight and center of gravity were within the performance limitations of the airplane at the time of the accident flight. The airplanes weight and balance was calculated using information obtained from data given by the pilot and the airplane was found to be within performance limitations.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 417 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 77 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days; 367 as pilot in command; 41 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,082.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 7, 2003; 45.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6M06 Owensville MO
- Destination: 3SQ St. Charles MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 1,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from VIH, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.