# Accident 19981001035589A: Cessna 172F, Ballground, GA, October 1, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 1, 1998
- Place: Ballground, GA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.3308° N, 84.3703° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3308&lon=-84.3703&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5588R, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5588R-2012-09-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172F (registry code 2072414, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172F
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL99LA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA001) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981001035589A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON OCT 1, 1998 AT APPROXIMATELY 1545 HRS. I WAS DEPARTING HOME BUILT RUNWAY 7 (APPROX 70 DEG), THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF IN ABOUT 750 FEET, I HAD ABOUT 12 DEG FLAPS, APPROX 1/4 TANK FUEL, AND AS I CLEARED A GAP IN THE TREES I ENCOUNTERED A LEFT QUARTERING HEADWIND WHICH WAS BETWEEN 10 AND 15 MPH. I DO NOT RECALL HAVING LEFT AILERON APPLIED AND IN FACT MIGHT HAVE HAD LEFT WING SOMEWHAT HIGH. BEING THE UP-WIND WING, I IMMEDIATELY SAILED TO THE RIGHT WHERE MY RIGHT WING IMPACTED A TREE (ABOUT 15 INCH DIA) ABOUT 1 1/2 FOOT FROM THE WING END. THE IMPACT POINT ON THE TREE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7 FEET ABOUT GROUND. SEVERE DAMAGE OCCURRED ON THE RIGHT WING. THE RIGHT MAIN RE-TOUCHED THE GROUND ABOUT 25 FEET PAST THE IMPACT POINT AND THE LEFT MAIN RE-TOUCHED THE GROUND IN ANOTHER 25 FEET. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TURNING TO THE RIGHT STILL IN A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE AS THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF THE NOSE WHEEL UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON A SLIGHT RISE IN THE TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER CAUSING PROP TIP STRIKE ON THE GROUND AND DAMAGE TO THE NOSECONE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SAT BACK DOWN ON ITS WHEELS. JUST PRIOR TO THE FULL STOP AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLIMBING THE SMALL BANK, THE LEFT   WINGTIP IMPACTED THE GROUND CAUSING DAMAGE TO IT ALSO. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 15 MPH WIND FROM ABOUT 35 DEG FROM THE LEFT OF RUNWAY CENTERLINE. THIS WAS THE 3RD TAKEOFF OF THE DAY, THE OTHER TWO HAVING BEEN SUCCESSFUL. THIS STATEMENT WAS MADE VOLUNTARILY. GILBERT J WARD CERT# 306341128

## 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 ATL99LA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL99LA001), Oct 1, 1998: Cessna C-172F (N5588R), Ball Ground, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilots failure to maintain directional control of the airplane on take-off, during gusty conditions, resulting in a collision with a tree.

## Other reports on N5588R (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20100115026412I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100115026412I), Jan 15, 2010: Cessna 172F (N5588R), Jasper, GA, Minor damage. On Friday, January 15, 2010 Mr. Ward, the pilot, was unable to start N5588R, a Cessna 172F, with the key. Mr. Ward chose to hand prop the airplane. With 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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