- Date
- July 4, 2012, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Greers Ferry, AR
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N84279Cessna 172K
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 4, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-LIT-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120704012929A
- Case key
- 84225
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 maintain a positive rate of climb while taking off with a high density altitude.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The airplane reached an altitude of about 80 feet above the ground during takeoff when it started to sink. The airplane descended, and the left wing contacted 20-foot trees, spinning the airplane around. The airplane then descended to the ground, coming to rest alongside a building. The left wing was substantially damaged. The field elevation at the departure airport was 630 feet and density altitude was calculated to be 3,790 feet. The pilot stated that taking off with a cooler temperature and less weight in the airplane could have prevented the accident. The pilot did not recognize and compensate for the high density altitude that existed at the time of takeoff.
Factual narrative
The airplane reached an altitude of approximately 80 feet above the ground on takeoff when it encountered an “air pocket.” The airplane descended and the left wing contacted 20 foot tall trees. The airplane descended to the ground coming to rest alongside a building. The left wing was substantially damaged. The density altitude was calculated to be 3,790 feet. The pilot recommended that taking off with a cooler temperature and less weight in the airplane could have prevented the accident. The pilot did not recognize and compensate for the high density altitude condition that existed at the time of takeoff.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N84279
- Reported as
- Cessna 172K
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17258406
- Airframe hours
- 2,689
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Clyde B. Malone
- Registered owner
- Clyde B. Malone
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 20, 2011 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- 33AR · Greers Ferry, AR
- Destination
- 8M2 · Weiner, AR
- Airport
- 33AR · Sky Point Estates, runway 09, 2,300 × 100 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
- 43
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 8, 2010
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 589 total · 79 in this make and model · 581 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 104 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.94 inHg
- Observed at
- BVX, 30 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 540 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.