What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Pilot departed runway 27 at kmmh ( Mammoth Lakes, CA) at approximately 0820L when the density altitude was 9000 MSL (temp 19 degrees c, airport elevation - 7135). Wind conditions taken from the AWOS at 0833L was 160 at 6 knots with gusts to 14 knots. The CE-172E aircraft had four persons ( two in the front at estimated 375 lbs, two in the rear estimated 280 lbs, 69 lbs of baggage in the rear baggage area and an estimated 26 gallons of fuel at 156 lbs. A witness observed the pilot conduct a normal runup of the engine prior to the takeoff and the sound of the engine appeared normal. The pilot made a takeoff on runway 27 and the aircraft was observed barely climbing. At approximately 30 to 50 feet, the aircraft was in a very nose high attitude and the aircraft stalled with the nose dropping down and the right wing tip striking the ground followed by the propeller and engine. The pilot stated he heard the stall warninghorm of the aircraft. The aircraft corkwheeled to the right coming to rest 180 degrees from the takeoff direction with the tail up at approximately 60 degrees. The aircraft weight and balance data was not located. Estimate the total weight of the aircraft was 2100-2200 lbs.
As the FAA filed it
PILOT DEPARTED RUNWAY 27 AT KMMH ( MAMMOTH LAKES, CA) AT APPROXIMATELY 0820L WHEN THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 9000 MSL (TEMP 19 DEGREES C, AIRPORT ELEVATION - 7135). WIND CONDITIONS TAKEN FROM THE AWOS AT 0833L WAS 160 AT 6 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 14 KNOTS. THE CE-172E AIRCRAFT HAD FOUR PERSONS ( TWO IN THE FRONT AT ESTIMATED 375 LBS, TWO IN THE REAR ESTIMATED 280 LBS, 69 LBS OF BAGGAGE IN THE REAR BAGGAGE AREA AND AN ESTIMATED 26 GALLONS OF FUEL AT 156 LBS. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE PILOT CONDUCT A NORMAL RUNUP OF THE ENGINE PRIOR TO THE TAKEOFF AND THE SOUND OF THE ENGINE APPEARED NORMAL. THE PILOT MADE A TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 27 AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED BARELY CLIMBING. AT APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 50 FEET, THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN A VERY NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED WITH THE NOSE DROPPING DOWN AND THE RIGHT WING TIP STRIKING THE GROUND FOLLOWED BY THE PROPELLER AND ENGINE. THE PILOT STATED HE HEARD THE STALL WARNINGHORM OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT CORKWHEELED TO THE RIGHT COMING TO REST 180 DEGREES FROM THE TAKEOFF DIRECTION WITH THE TAIL UP AT APPROXIMATELY 60 DEGREES. THE AIRCRAFT WEIGHT AND BALANCE DATA WAS NOT LOCATED. ESTIMATE THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS 2100-2200 LBS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.