Cessna T303 accident near Great Barrington, Massachusetts, February 4, 2018
On February 4, 2018 at about 9:55 pm local time, a 1984 Cessna T303, registered N303TL, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Great Barrington, Massachusetts (Walter J Koladza airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to see the taxiway when returning to the ramp from the snow-covered runway, which resulted in the airplane rolling down an embankment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 4, 2018 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Great Barrington, Massachusetts · Walter J Koladza · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T303 NO SERIES, built 1984 · all T303s on the register
- Registration
- N303TL · no longer on the register · serial T30300286
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while taxiing onto the snow-covered runway for departure, he was unable to see the runway markings. He added that he decided to cancel the flight and return to the ramp, but the airplane exited the runway and went down an embankment. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered surface › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,427 hours in all; 223 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,205 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 5, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,650 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 5,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor TSIO-520-AE3B (piston); 894 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor LTSIO-520-AE3 (piston); 894 hours total
- Operator: Pegasus Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: FRG Farmingdale NY at 5:15 pm
- Destination: GBR Great Barrington MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 11, 2,579 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 4 knots
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 9:49 pm from KPSF, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 18, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N303TL the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.