# NTSB BFO85LA028: Cessna 172L, N7586G, Leesburg, VA, March 16, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 15, 1985, 20:35 local (Mar 16, 1985, 01:35 UTC)
- Place: Leesburg, VA
- Location: 39.1028° N, 77.5545° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Leesburg, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1028&lon=-77.5545&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11166
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO85LA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11166/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO85LA028

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff
  - terrain condition - ditch
  - aircraft weight and balance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command
  - weather condition - tailwind
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - aborted takeoff - attempted, pilot in command
- Nose gear collapsed, takeoff
  - terrain condition - ground
- Nose over, takeoff
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE PLT ENPLANED 3 ADULT PAXS AND TAXIED TO RWY 17 FOR TKOF. RPTD WND WAS 310 AT 8KTS. TKOF ROLL WAS INIATED AND CONTINUED UNTIL NEAR MIDFLD AT WHICH TIME IT BECAME APPARENT TO THE PLT THAT THE ACFT WOULD NOT ROTATE. THE PLT THEN ABTD THE TKOF BUT AS THE ACFT NEARED THE END OF THE RWY HE ADDED PWR IN ORDER TO FLY OVR A DRAINAGE DITCH ABT 100FT PAST THE END OF THE RWY. UPON TOUCHDWN ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE DITCH THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT SLID APPROX 50FT BFR NOSING OVR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N7586G (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17259286
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Continental Aviation Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 6, 1984, 726 hours before
- Destination: AIY, ATLANTIC, NJ
- Airport: W09, Leesburg, runway 17, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 363 total, 71 in this make and model, 254 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: IAD, 10 nm away

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.

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