# Accident 20120428008389A: Cessna 172D, Beckwourth, CA, April 28, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 28, 2012, 12:15 local time
- Place: Beckwourth, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.4933° N, 120.1703° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4933&lon=-120.1703&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2559U, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2559U) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172D (registry code 2072410, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-300 series (registry code 17022, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172D
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 582 total, 452 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR12LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA189) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120428008389A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTED TO DEPART A 2400' PRIVATE DIRT AIRSTRIP LOCATED NEAR BECKWOURTH, CA. THE PILOT DEPARTED NORTHBOUND ON A HEADING OF 010 DEGREES, INITIATED A LEFT TURN WHEN THE WING STARTED TO STALL THE PILOT LEVELED THE WINGS, REGAINED CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT BUT HAD LOST AIRSPEED AND ELECTED TO LAND ADJACENT TO THE AIRSTRIP AFTER REDUCING POWER TO THE ENGINE. UPON TOUCHDOWN THE NOSE WHEEL DUG INTO THE SOFT TERRAIN CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE PILOT HAD NO INJURIES BUT THE ONLY PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN WRIST. EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SCENE INDICATED THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF AFTER UTILIZING APPROXIMATELY 1200' OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRSTRIP SHOWED EVIDENCE THE RIGHT MAIN TIRE MADE CONTACT 3 MORE TIMES BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE BEFORE IMPACTING THE TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 600' LATER ON A HEADING OF 317 DEGREES. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT SHOWED THE LEFT WING SPAR WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE RIGHT WING SUFFERED SPAR DAMAGE. THE PROPELLER INDICATED MINOR ROTATIONAL DAMAGE WITH BOTH BLADES BEING BENT REARWARDS.

## 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 WPR12LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA189), Apr 28, 2012: Cessna 172D (N2559U), Beckwourth, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during initial climb, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.

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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