# NTSB BFO90LA013: Cessna 172, N52491, Mitchellville, MD, November 19, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 19, 1989, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Mitchellville, MD
- Coordinates: 38.949893, -76.729858 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9499&lon=-76.7299&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 15, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11570
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90LA013
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11570/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90LA013

## Probable cause

THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO ENTER AN INADVERTENT PORPOISE DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - aborted
  - aborted takeoff - performed
  - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, takeoff - aborted
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

AFTER FLYING ABOUT 1/2 HR IN THE LOCAL AREA, THE PLT RETURNED TO THE ARPT & LANDED. HE THEN TAXIED BACK TO THE APCH END OF THE RWY & INITIATED ANOTHER TAKEOFF. HE STATED THAT HE APPLIED FULL POWER & FULL RPM WAS OBTAINED. ALSO, HE STATED THE ACFT LIFTED OFF AT 60 TO 65 KTS, BUT WOULD ONLY CLIMB ABOUT 10 FT. HE WAS UNSURE OF WHETHER OR NOT, THE ACFT WOULD CLEAR TREES AT THE END OF THE RWY, SO HE ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF (ABOUT 1/2 TO 3/4 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RWY). DRG THE ABORTED TAKEOFF, THE ACFT BEGAN TO PORPOISE. SUBSEQUENTLY, ITS NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. NO PRE-ACDNT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS RPRTD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N52491](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N52491-2016-02-05), registration cancelled 2016-02-05, S/N 17274539 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17274539
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Robert E. Wehmann
- Registered owner: Robert E Wehmann
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: W00, Freeway, runway 18, 2,420 × 30 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 130 total, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19891119065739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891119065739A), Nov 19, 1989: Cessna 172P, Mitchellville, MD, Substantial damage. Unable climb after takeoff. Aborted due trees at end. Porpoised. Collapsed nose gear. No anomalies found.

## Other investigations on N52491 (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 NYC93LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC93LA055), Jan 23, 1993: Cessna 172P (N52491), Teterboro, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE DEPARTING THE RUNWAY AND NOSING OVER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE CROSSWIND AND THE…

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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