# Accident 20130330004879A: Cessna 172N, Bally, PA, March 30, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 30, 2013, 13:15 local time
- Place: Bally, PA
- Airport: Butter Valley Golf Port
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.3922° N, 75.5586° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3922&lon=-75.5586&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4601D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4601D-2014-12-18) (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: 4
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 48 total, 48 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13CA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA185) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130330004879A

## Narrative

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

ON TAKEOFF AT UNFAMILIAR AIRPORT WITH AIRCRAFT NEAR MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT LOW TIME PILOT LOST CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT RESULTING IN A DRIFT TO LEFT OF CENTERLINE. DUE TO SPATIAL DISORIENTATION CAUSED BY THE RUNWAY RAPIDLY SLOPING UP PILOT INCORRECTLY DETERMINED AIRCRAFT WAS NOT GAINING ALTITUDE. PILOT THEN ATTEMPTED TO ABORT TAKEOFF AND LEFT MAIN GEAR LANDED IN TURF ON THE LEFT EDGE OF RUNWAY INCREASING LEFT DRIFT RATE. DUE TO THE CLOSE PROXIMITY OF TREES TO THE RUNWAY THE LEFT WING STRUCK 3 CONIFER TREES. THE THIRD TREE ROTATED THE AIRCRAFT APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES COUNTERCLOCKWISE. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED IN THE ORIGINAL DIRECTION SLIDING SIDEWAYS BETWEEN TWO ADDITIONAL TREES STRIKING THE TAIL AND PROPELLER. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED AND CAME TO A STOP AGAINST A SIXTH TREE.

NO WITNESS MARKS WERE NOTED INDICATING APPLICATION OF BRAKING THROUGHOUT THE GROUND PORTION OF THE ACCIDENT AND PILOT VERIFIED SAME DURING INTERVIEW IN OUR OFFICE ON APRIL 3, 2013 AT 1000 LOCAL. HE ALSO STATED HE TRIED TO CORRECT THE DRIFT UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED THE THIRD TREE THAT SPUN THE AIRCRAFT AND COULD NOT RECALL EVER USING RUDDER COMMANDS TO TRY TO CORRECT THE DRIFT.

## 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 ERA13CA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA185), Mar 30, 2013: Cessna 172N (N4601D), Bally, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll.

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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