# Accident 20000326019879A: Cessna 172A, Sissonville, WV, March 26, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 26, 2000, 15:00 local time
- Place: Sissonville, WV
- Airport: Private
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.5404° N, 81.6297° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5404&lon=-81.6297&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7879T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7879T-2003-05-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172A (registry code 2072404, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172A
- Reported engine: CONT O300*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 121 total, 100 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC00LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA099) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000326019879A

## Narrative

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

(.4)THE PILOT WAS EXECUTING A TAKEOFF FROM A 1,100-FOOT DIRT STRIP FOR CLOSED TRAFFIC WHEN THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND SHORTLY AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL AILERON AND RUDDER, BUT COULD NOT ARREST THE DRIFT TO THE LEFT.  THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES, THEN SLID DOWN A BANK, COMING TO REST APPROXIMATELY 80 FEET FROM THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY.  THE PILOT MADE NO MENTION OF ANY FLIGHT CONTROL OR ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS.  THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, WITH AN OCCASIONAL GUST OF WIND WHEN THE PILOT EXECUTED THE TAKEOFF.  AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE ON POSITION, FUEL WAS PRESENT, AND FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS VERIFIED.     (-23) PILOT DEPARTED FROM PRIVATE AIRSTRIP HEADING SOUTH. AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE 1/2 WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY. A GUST OF WIND FROM THE WEST PUSHED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT INTO TREES. FULL CONTROL MOVEMENT WOULD NOT OVERCOME WINDS. AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES AT END OF RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST 80 FEET BELOW RUNWAY ON MOUNTAIN SIDE. AIRCRAFT DESTROYED. PILOT RECEIVED NO INJURIES.

## 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 NYC00LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA099), Mar 26, 2000: Cessna 172 (N7879T), Sissonville, WV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain runway alignment during takeoff. A factor in the accident was wind gusts.

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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