What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.19) On September 22, 2001, at 0830 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 172, N5792A, operated by the pilot was substantially damaged during departure from a private airstrip at skull valley, Arizona. The private pilot sustained minor injuries, and the two passengers had no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight operating under 14 CFR part 91, and no flight plan was filed. The originating flight was destined for buckeye, Arizona. The pilot stated that during departure from runway 02 the engine lost power, he turned right to clear a hill, and contacted a tree with the right wing. The private dirt airstrip (quarter circle j) is 2,900 feet in length and 4,366 feet MSL elevation. The temperature was estimated to be in the low 70'S and the wind was estimated as 360 degrees at 7 knots. According to the pilot, he had 30 gallons of fuel remaining at the time of departure. According to weight and balance calculations, the airplane was 2,139 pounds at departure and the gross weight is 2,200 pounds. (-23) pilot was departing a turf runway at an elevation of approximately 4366 ft MSL, with three individuals onboard and 32 gallons of fuel. (Individu al 1 (270 lbs) (individual 2 (160 lbs) (individual 3 (160 lbs). Departure runway gradient was uphill during takeoff. The pilot did not gain enough altitude to clear trees at the end of the runway and struck same causing substantial damage to the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
(.19) ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2001, AT 0830 HOURS MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 172, N5792A, OPERATED BY THE PILOT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING DEPARTURE FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP AT SKULL VALLEY, ARIZONA. THE PRIVATE PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND THE TWO PASSENGERS HAD NO INJURIES. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR PART 91, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE ORIGINATING FLIGHT WAS DESTINED FOR BUCKEYE, ARIZONA. THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING DEPARTURE FROM RUNWAY 02 THE ENGINE LOST POWER, HE TURNED RIGHT TO CLEAR A HILL, AND CONTACTED A TREE WITH THE RIGHT WING. THE PRIVATE DIRT AIRSTRIP (QUARTER CIRCLE J) IS 2,900 FEET IN LENGTH AND 4,366 FEET MSL ELEVATION. THE TEMPERATURE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE IN THE LOW 70'S AND THE WIND WAS ESTIMATED AS 360 DEGREES AT 7 KNOTS. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE HAD 30 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE. ACCORDING TO WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATIONS, THE AIRPLANE WAS 2,139 POUNDS AT DEPARTURE AND THE GROSS WEIGHT IS 2,200 POUNDS. (-23) PILOT WAS DEPARTING A TURF RUNWAY AT AN ELEVATION OF APPROXIMATELY 4366 FT MSL, WITH THREE INDIVIDUALS ONBOARD AND 32 GALLONS OF FUEL. (INDIVIDU AL 1 (270 LBS) (INDIVIDUAL 2 (160 LBS) (INDIVIDUAL 3 (160 LBS). DEPARTURE RUNWAY GRADIENT WAS UPHILL DURING TAKEOFF. THE PILOT DID NOT GAIN ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLEAR TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK SAME CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.