19971006045659A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 120 · Prince George, VA · October 6, 1997

Date: October 6, 1997 · 10:00 local
Place: Prince George, VA
Phase of flight: To Aborted (Fixed Wing)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N1856N
NTSB investigation: NTSBNYC98LA007
Reported as: Cessna 120
Reported engine: Continental C858
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 454 total40 in this make and model

N1856NRegistration cancelled Aug 13, 2012 · Cessna 120S/N 12100 · Built 1946 Airframe modelCessna 120 Engine modelContinental C85 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4) The private pilot departed a private grass strip for a local flight. As the pilot rotated the airplane 1000-1200 feet down the runway, it only climbed to 4 feet above the ground. After continuing down the runway for another 400-500 feet the pilot elected to reduce power and abort the takeoff. The airplane touched down on loose dirt, nosed over and came to rest inverted.

As the FAA filed it

(.4) THE PRIVATE PILOT DEPARTED A PRIVATE GRASS STRIP FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT. AS THE PILOT ROTATED THE AIRPLANE 1000-1200 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY, IT ONLY CLIMBED TO 4 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. AFTER CONTINUING DOWN THE RUNWAY FOR ANOTHER 400-500 FEET THE PILOT ELECTED TO REDUCE POWER AND ABORT THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON LOOSE DIRT, NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB NYC98LA007Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPrince George, VAThe pilot's failure to attain takeoff climb, and his delay in aborting the takeoff. A contributing factor was soft terrain.Oct 6, 1997 · Substantial damage