# NTSB BFO88LA086: Cessna 172M, N85012, Keysville, VA, September 28, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 28, 1988, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Keysville, VA
- Coordinates: 37.03033, -78.479148 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0303&lon=-78.4791&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11441
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO88LA086
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11441/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO88LA086

## Probable cause

AIRCRAFT OVERRAN THE RUNWAY AFTER THE PILOT ABORTED THE TAKEOFF BECAUSE THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT ACCELERATE TO TAKEOFF SPEED. A CONTRIBUTING CAUSE IS INADEQUATE PRELIGHT PLANNING. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IS UPSLOPING HIGH GRASS COVERED TERRAIN AND FAILURE TO USE FLAPS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Overrun, takeoff - aborted
  - terrain condition - uphill (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - lowering of flaps - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT SAID THE ACFT DID NOT ACCELERATE TO TAKEOFF SPEED SO HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AFTER USING ABOUT 3/4 OF THE RWY LENGTH. THE ACFT OVERRAN THE RWY AND STRUCK A TREE. THE TURF RWY IS UPSLOPING THE FIRST HALF OF ITS LENGTH. THE PLT SAID THE GRASS WAS 6 INCHES HIGH. HE REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N85012 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17266630
- Airframe hours: 3645
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ed Carter
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 29, 1988, 95 hours before
- Departed: W85
- Destination: W13, WAYNESBORO, VA
- Airport: W85, Keysville, runway 27, 1,850 × 350 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 826 total, 85 in this make and model, 513 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.