# Accident 20030830027279A: Cessna 172M, Hendersonville, NC, August 30, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 30, 2003, 16:09 local time
- Place: Hendersonville, NC
- Airport: Hendersonville Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.3075° N, 82.4331° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3075&lon=-82.4331&mi=10
- Aircraft: N19929, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N19929-2012-08-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL03LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA131) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030830027279A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON AUGUST 30, 2003, AT 1209 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, A CESSNA 172M, N19929, REGISTERED TO WIRTZ AVIATION, INC., AND OPERATED BY THE PRIVATE PILOT, COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF FROM HENDERSONVILLE AIRPORT, HENDERSONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA. THE LOCAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 WITH NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND REAR-SEATED PASSENGER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES, AND THE REAR-SEATED JUVENILE PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 30, 2003. THE PILOT WAS GIVING CHARITY RIDES AROUND THE AIRPORT AREA, AND THE FLIGHT WAS THE THIRD OR FOURTH TRIP AROUND THE AIRPORT THAT DAY. THE PILOT STATED THE TAKEOFF ROLL AND LIFTOFF FROM RUNWAY 14 WERE NORMAL. AS THE PILOT CLIMBED THE AIRPLANE AND INITIATED A LEFT TURNING CLIMB AFTER DEPARTURE, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SINK. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO KEEP THE NOSE UP AS IT SANK INTO THE TREES. INITIAL EXAMINATION FOUND THE AIRPLANE NOSE-DOWN IN A WOODED AREA. THE NOSE WAS CRUSHED AFT WITH THE ENGINE DISPLACED, AND THE FUSELAGE BUCKLED. FUEL WAS OBSERVED IN THE WING TANKS.

## 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 ATL03LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL03LA131), Aug 30, 2003: Cessna 172M (N19929), Hendersonville, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather. The downdraft was a contributing factor.

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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