# Accident 20031109035589A: Cessna 172N, Philipi, WV, November 9, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 9, 2003, 15:30 local time
- Place: Philipi, WV
- Airport: Simpson Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.0933° N, 80.0258° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0933&lon=-80.0258&mi=10
- Aircraft: N738UL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N738UL-2013-05-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172N (registry code 2072434, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYC O320*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 423 total, 135 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC04CA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA032) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031109035589A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A SHORT FIELD TAKE OFF FROM A 1500 FOOT GRASS STRIP AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TREES AT THE END OF THE FIELD THAT WERE APPROXIMATELY FORTY FEET HIGH. THIS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO PITCH DOWN AND IMPACT A LARGER TREE WHICH SHEARED OFF THE RIGHT WING. THE AIRCRAFT THEN CAME TO REST VERTICALLY WITH THE NOSE ON THE GROUND AND THE FUSELAGE RESTING AGAINST A TREE. THE PILOT AND THE ONLY PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT THROUGH THE BROKEN WIND SCREEN WITH ONLY MINOR 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 NYC04CA032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA032), Nov 9, 2003: Cessna 172N (N738UL), Philippi, WV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to depart from a runway of insufficient length. Factors in the accident were the turf runway and tailwind condition.

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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