# Accident 19970929029189A: Cessna 170, Troy, NC, September 29, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 29, 1997, 11:25 local time
- Place: Troy, NC
- Airport: Battens
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Aborted (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.3605° N, 79.8907° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3605&lon=-79.8907&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2554V, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2554V-1998-03-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 170 (registry code 2072302, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 170
- Reported engine: CONT O300A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,140 total, 188 in this make and model, 117 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA97LA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA251) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970929029189A

## Narrative

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

REJECTED DOWNWIND TAKEOFF LATE DUE A LACK OF ACCELERATION. (.4)THE PILOT STATED THAT HE PERFORMED AN ENGINE RUN-UP BEFORE STARTING A TAKEOFF WITH NO DISCREPANCIES NOTED. HE POSITIONED THE AIRPLANE ON THE 2,300 FOOT GRASS AIRSTRIP (RUNWAY 17), AND BEGAN TAKING OFF WITH A RIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND FROM 310 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS. HE APPLIED FULL THROTTLE, AND NOTED THAT DURING THE EARLY PORTION OF THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE ENGINE RPM WAS AT THE RED LINE. AT ABOUT MIDFIELD, HE NOTED THAT THE ACCELERATION SEEMED SLUGGISH. HE CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AND ABOUT 2/3 DOWN THE RUNWAY WITH THE TAILWHEEL STILL ON THE RUNWAY SURFACE, HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A TREE BEYOND THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE MAGNETOS WERE NOT PROPERLY TIMED. ALSO, THERE WERE INDICATIONS THAT THE CARBURETOR AND ACCELERATOR PUMP WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.                                            (-23)"BATEN'S AIR STRIP" IS A PRIVATE 2300 FEET LING SOD AIRSTRIP LOCATED IN TROY, NORTH CAROLINA.  A TAKEOFF FROM THIS FIELD WAS ATTEMPTED BY THE PILOT OF CESSNA 170 N2554V, AND THEN REJECTED WHEN HE FELT THAT THE CONVENTION                AL TAILWHEEL AIRCRAFT WAS NOT ACCELERATING AS IT SHOULD. BASED ON THE PILOT'S ACCOUNT, THERE IS NO INDICATION OF AN AIRFRAME OR ENGINE MALFUNCTION, AND WEATHER AND WIND WERE NOT A FACTOR.  HE ALSO FEELS THAT UDER THE PREVAILING CONDITIONS A NORMAL TAKEOFF WAS POSSIBLE.  FOR CERTAIN THE AIRPLANE ACCELERATED ENOUGH THAT THE REMAINING FIELD LENGTH WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO STOP.

## 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 MIA97LA251](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA251), Sep 29, 1997: Cessna 170 (N2554V), Troy, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: delay of the pilot to abort the takeoff after noting sluggish acceleration during the takeoff roll. Factors relating to the accident were: improper timing of the magneto(s), and a malfunction of the…

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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