Cessna 172M N92804

Summary

On 7 April 2013 at about 18:45 local time, a Cessna 172M registered N92804 was involved in an accident near New Castle, Virginia, United States. 3 people were 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

7 April 2013 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

New Castle, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

New Castle International (VA85)

Coordinates

37.4833, -80.0997

Aircraft

Cessna 172M

Registration

N92804

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

New Castle → Mount Airy

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA13LA194

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff after recognizing that the airplane was not accelerating properly, which led to an aerodynamic stall. The reason for the lack of acceleration could not be determined because postaccident examinations did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, before departure, he performed an engine run-up and then initiated takeoff from the 2,400-foot-long upsloping grass runway in accordance with soft-field takeoff procedures. The airplane was slow to produce speed; but, it lifted off the ground. Although the pilot attempted to fly in ground effect to produce more speed, he soon realized that he did not have enough speed or altitude to clear trees beyond the runway, so he maneuvered the airplane toward a clearing where he intended to land the airplane. However, the airplane then stalled, the left wing tip contacted the ground, and the airplane cart-wheeled. The pilot further reported that he should have recognized the "sluggish speed sooner and [aborted the] takeoff." Examinations revealed that the magnetos were slightly out of timing and that both of the No. 2 cylinder's spark plugs contained lead and carbon deposits; however, it could not be determined how this affected engine power or whether these conditions would have been noticeable to the pilot during the engine run-up before departure or during the takeoff. Examinations revealed no anomalies that could have precluded normal operation. Postaccident performance calculations indicate that, based on the airplane's weight, the reported headwind component, and takeoff from a grass runway, the total distance to clear a 50-foot obstacle was 914 feet; therefore, the pilot should have been able to clear the trees.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.