# Accident 20130218001449A: Cessna 172N, Okeechobee, FL, February 18, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 18, 2013, 11:00 local time
- Place: Okeechobee, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.1883° N, 80.6342° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.1883&lon=-80.6342&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6249D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6249D-2018-06-26) (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: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 620 total, 400 in this make and model, 110 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13CA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA137) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130218001449A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRMAN LANDED ON A DIRT ROAD AT THE PINE RIDGE PLANTATION, A HUNTING CLUB, TO THE SOUTHEAST TURNED AROUND TO THE NORTHWEST AND INITIATED A TAKEOFF IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.  APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT THROUGH A BARB WIRE FENCE BREAKING THE BARB WIRE AND SEVERAL FENCE POSTS.  AFTER PASSING THROUGH THE FENCE AT APPROXIMATELY 600 FEET FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A PALM TREE SHEARING OFF ABOUT 4 FEET OF THE RIGHT WING TIP.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN VEERED BACK TO THE RIGHT IN RESPONSE TO IMPACT WITH THE PALM TREE AND FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN AFTER SHEARING THE NOSE GEAR OFF ON AN INCLINE PARALLEL TO A DITCH.  THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A REST UPSIDE DOWN ACROSS THE DITCH APPROXIMATELY 950 FEET FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE TAKEOFF ROLL.

BASED ON A GOOGLE EARTH MAP THE TAKEOFF DIRECTION WAS 335 DEGREES.  THE REPORTED WEATHER AT THE OKEECHOBEE COUNTY AIRPORT (OBE), FLORIDA, WHICH IS 13NM NORTHWEST OF THE ACCIDENT SIGHT, WAS 07009G16KT 10SM CLR 18/07 A3035.  ASSUMING THE AFOREMENTIONED WEATHER WAS SIMILAR AT THE TAKEOFF LOCATION THE WIND WOULD HAVE BEEN A RIGHT CROSSWIND.

INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT COCKPIT CONTROLS REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO BE PROPERLY CONFIGURED FOR TAKEOFF.  NO KNOWN MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE AIRMAN OR DURING INVESTIGATION OF THE ACCIDENT.

A REVIEW OF THE AIRMAN?S LOGBOOK REVEALED THAT THE AIRMAN APPEARED TO BE CURRENT AND QUALIFIED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

A REVIEW OF THE AIRPLANE?S MAINTENANCE LOGBOOKS REVEALED THAT THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO BE AIRWORTHY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## 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 ERA13CA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA137), Feb 18, 2013: Cessna 172N (N6249D), Okeechobee, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

## Other reports on N6249D (1)

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

- [Incident 20060906018239I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060906018239I), Sep 6, 2006: Cessna 172N (N6249D), Allentown, PA, Minor damage. (-23) During a landing on runway 25 at the Queen city airport (1N9) in Allentown, PA, the student bounced during the landing roll. Subsequently, the student…

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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