Cessna 172 N8627B

Summary

On 23 July 1995 at about 22:20 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N8627B, operated by Johnson, Vernon S., was involved in an accident near Mazama, Washington, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 July 1995 at 22:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Mazama, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Lost River (WA36)

Coordinates

48.5898, -120.3902

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N8627B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Johnson, Vernon S.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Corvallis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA95LA160

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed for the wind conditions during climbout. The gusty wind condition was a factor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airport was located in a valley in mountainous territory. The pilot estimated the wind at takeoff as being down the runway at 25 knots, gusting to 35 knots. He stated that he took off with 20 degrees of flaps due to concerns about obstacle clearance; however, the airplane owner's manual states that obstacle clearance takeoffs are to be performed with flaps retracted. Witnesses stated that after becoming airborne, the airplane 'initiated a healthy rate of climb.' The pilot and witnesses reported that the right wing then dropped as the airplane reached the level of treetops surrounding the airport. The pilot said he attempted to correct the wing drop with aileron but that his corrective action was not fully effective. The airplane subsequently impacted the runway.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.