- Date
- September 6, 1999, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Houston, MS
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9785TCessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 30, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990906039189A
- Case key
- 47291
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to switch the magneto switch to the both position before attempting a takeoff that resulted in the loss of engine power and resulted in the subsequent collision with trees.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he completed the engine run-up procedure as he taxied to the runway for takeoff. He reported that all systems checked normal, but he believed he forgot to return the magneto switch to the both position before attempting the takeoff. He also said, he and his son had made several takeoffs from their private airstrip and they were usually airborne within the first half of the 1600-sod airstrip. No mechanical problems were reported by the pilot. The post-accident examination of the airplane also failed to disclose a mechanical problem.
Factual narrative
On September 6, 1999, at 1100 central daylight time, a Cessna 172, N9785T, collided with underbrush/trees and nosed over on the departure end of runway 18 at a private airstrip in Houston, Mississippi. The personal flight was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the commercial pilot received and his passenger were not injured. The flight departed Houston, Mississippi, at 1055.
The pilot reported that he conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane before it was removed from his hangar. Following the preflight inspection, the pilot taxied to runway 18 where he completed a normal engine run-up. During the attempted takeoff, the pilot recalled that the engine did not operate at the normal takeoff performance level. After liftoff from the 1600-foot sod airstrip, the pilot recalled that the airplane would not climb. The airplane collided with 30 foot tall trees and underbrush, and nosed over about 50 feet from the departure end of the runway.
During a telephone conversation, the pilot stated that he completed the engine run-up procedure as he taxied to the runway for takeoff. He reported that all systems checked normal, but he believed he forgot to return the magneto switch to the both position before attempting the takeoff. He also said, he and his son had previously completed several takeoffs from their private airstrip and they were usually airborne within the first half of the 1600-sod airstrip.
No mechanical problems were reported by the pilot. The post-accident examination of the airplane also failed to disclose a mechanical problem.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9785T
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 47585
- Airframe hours
- 2,136
- Engine
- Continental O-300C, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Melvin C. Gann Sr.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 24, 1999 · 5 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
- Airport
- NONE, runway 18, 1,600 × 75 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 68
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 15,000 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 15,000 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 0° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TUP, 30 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.