# Accident 19970331010779A: Cessna 172N, North, SC, March 31, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 31, 1997, 10:00 local time
- Place: North, SC
- Airport: North Af Aux Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.6595° N, 80.7697° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6595&lon=-80.7697&mi=10
- Aircraft: N738NC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N738NC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,000 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 72 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA97LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA105) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970331010779A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

MADE DOWNWIND TAKEOFF. LOST CONTROL DUE WIND CONDITIONS. CRASHED OFF AIRPORT. NEAR GROSS WT AND TURBULENCE FACTORS. (-23) ON 03/31/97, AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 HOURS LOCAL, THE PILOT IN COMMAND MICHAEL CHRISTMANN, MADE A DOWNWIND TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 14 AT THE DO LITTLE AIRPORT, NEAR NORTH SC, IN N738NC, A CESSNA 172.  DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB, THE PILOT IN COMMAND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO THE WIND CONDITIONS.  THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED TWO TENTHS OF A MILE SOUTH OF RUNWAY 14.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.  THE PILOT IN COMMAND, MICHAEL CHRISTMANN, RECEIVED NO INJURIES.  THE PILOT REVEIVING INSTRUCTION AND THE PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR CUTS AND BRUISES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA97LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA105), Mar 31, 1997: Cessna 172N (N738NC), St Matthews, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper decision to take off downwind with gusty wind conditions.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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