# Accident 20121020022489A: Cessna 172D, Indian Trail, NC, October 20, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 20, 2012, 14:30 local time
- Place: Indian Trail, NC
- Airport: Goose Creek
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.1208° N, 80.5872° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1208&lon=-80.5872&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2879U, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2879U-2014-09-03) (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: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 5,890 total, 362 in this make and model, 81 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13LA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA037) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121020022489A

## Narrative

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

OCTOBER 20, 2012, PIC ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ OF N2879U, CE-172-D TOOK OFF FROM AIRPORT 28A ON RUNWAY 22.  A TOTAL OF FOUR PERSONS WERE ON BOARD.  ONE PILOT AND 3 PASSENGERS.  THE PILOT AND ONE GIRL WERE IN THE FRONT TWO SEATS AND 2 ADULT FEMALES WERE IN THE REAR SEAT.  NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED; THE TRIP WAS TO BE STRICTLY VFR.  THE AIRPLANE TANKS WERE FULL OF FUEL.  THE AIPRLANE WAS WITHIN CENTER OF GRAVITY (CG).THE AIRPLANE CRASHED DURING THE TAKE-OFF PHASE APPROXIMATELY 1 – 1 ½ MILES SOUTHWEST OF AIRPORT 28A.  PIC STATED THAT HE USED MORE RUNWAY THAN USUAL FOR THE TAKE-OFF AND THAT AT 60 KNOTS HE ROTATED BUT THE POWER DID NOT FEEL RIGHT NOR DID THE ROTATION FEEL RIGHT.  THE PIC STATED THAT 60 KNOTS IS THE FASTEST THE AIRPLANE WOULD GO, HE WAS NOT GETTING GOOD POWER AND THAT IT FELT AS IF THE TAIL HIT THEN THE AIRPLANE WAS BANKING TO THE LEFT.  THE PIC STATED THAT HE COULD NOT GET THE AIRSPEED TO COME BACK UP; THE AIRSPEED JUST KEPT FALLING.  EVIDENCE WAS FOUND ON TREES WITHIN THE AIRPLANE DESCENT PATH OF PROPELLER STRIKES.THE CESSNA MODEL 172D OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT NORMAL AND OBSTACLE CLEARANCE TAKE-OFFS ARE PERFORMED WITH FLAPS UP.  THE DIRECTION FROM THE AIRPORT THAT THE PILOT TOOK OFF IS CONSIDERED TO BE A TAKE-OFF WITH OBSTACLES.  THE PILOT STATED THAT 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS WAS USED FOR TAKE-OFF.OCTOBER 26, 2012, ENGINE RUN WAS PERFORMED ON THE CONTINENTAL O-300-D INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT AND THE ENGINE PERFORMED SATISFACTORY.  ALL PERFORMANCE NUMBERS WERE MET.

## 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 ERA13LA037](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA037), Oct 20, 2012: Cessna 172D (N2879U), Indian Trail, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper use of flaps for takeoff, which resulted in the airplane’s failure to attain adequate climb airspeed and subsequent collision will trees during takeoff.

## Other reports on N2879U (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20110722017809I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110722017809I), Jul 22, 2011: Cessna 172D (N2879U), Indian Trail, NC, Minor damage. [privacy data omitted], Was practicing emergency procedures with a student. Upon reduction of power to simulate engine failure the student selected a dirt road…

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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