# Accident 19971006045659A: Cessna 120, Prince George, VA, October 6, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 6, 1997, 10:00 local time
- Place: Prince George, VA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Aborted (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.2201° N, 77.2801° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2201&lon=-77.2801&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1856N, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1856N-2012-08-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 120 (registry code 2071402, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C85 series (registry code 17008, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 120
- Reported engine: CONT C858
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 454 total, 40 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC98LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA007) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971006045659A

## Narrative

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

(.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.

## 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 NYC98LA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA007), Oct 6, 1997: Cessna 120 (N1856N), Prince George, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to attain takeoff climb, and his delay in aborting the takeoff. A contributing factor was soft terrain.

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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