# NTSB CHI03LA303: Cessna 172G, N3811L, Greenville, MI, September 7, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 7, 2003, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Greenville, MI - Coordinates: 43.142223, -85.25389 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1422&lon=-85.2539&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviaiton Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57916 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA303 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57916/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA303 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate takeoff procedure with the use of 20 degrees of flaps. Contributing factors were the interrelated effects of high aircraft weight, the density altitude, and the relative humidity. An additional factor was the trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft weight and balance - high, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - procedure inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - other (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted trees and terrain during initial climb from a 4,200 foot long hard surfaced runway. The pilot reported the airplane had full fuel and 3 passengers. The pilot stated that for the takeoff he selected 20 degrees of flaps, rotated the airplane about 60 miles per hour, and kept the airplane in ground effect to gain airspeed. He stated that during the climb the wings started to stall. The pilot lowered the nose to regain airspeed, but impacted 70 foot high trees at the departure end of the runway. The airplane flight manual recommends no flaps for normal and obstacle clearnace takeoffs and flaps 10 degrees to shorten ground run. It does not recommend flaps settings of 30-40 degrees. Based upon the airport's weather observation temperature data, the density altitude was 2,332 feet mean sea level with a relative humidity of 51 percent. ## Factual narrative On September 7, 2003, at 1800 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172G, N3811L, operated by Monarch Aviation as a rental airplane, received substantial damage on impact with trees and terrain during initial climb from runway 28 (4,200 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at Greenville Municipal Airport (6O6), Greenville, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The private rated pilot and three passengers reported no injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot's written statement, the airplane started the takeoff roll with 20 degrees of flaps. The pilot stated he rotated the airplane about 60 miles per hour. The pilot reported the airplane stayed in "ground effect" to gain airspeed. The pilot stated that when the wings started to stall, he lowered the nose of the airplane in an attempt to regain airspeed. The airplane then impacted trees at the departure end at runway 28. The 1966 Cessna 172G has a maximum weight in the normal category of 2,300 pounds and a maximum weight in the utility category weight of 2,000 pounds. The airplane has a total fuel capacity of 39 gallons and a total usable fuel capacity of 36 gallons. The 1966 Cessna 172 and Skyhawk Owner's Manual states, "normal and obstacle clearance take-offs are performed with wing flaps up. The use of 10 [degrees] flaps will shorten the ground run approximately 10 [percent] but this advantage is lost in the climb to a 50-foot obstacle. Therefore, the use of 10 [degree] flaps is reserved for minimum ground runs or for take-off from soft or rough fields with no obstacles ahead." "If 10 [degrees] of flaps are used in ground runs, it is preferable to leave them extended rather than retract them in the climb to the obstacle. The exception to this rule would be in a high altitude take-off in hot weather where climb would be marginal with flaps 10 [degrees]." "Flap settings of 30 [degrees] to 40 [degrees] are not recommended at any time for take-off." The pilot reported that there was 38 gallons/228 pounds of 100 low lead fuel at the time of takeoff. The Grand Rapids, Michigan, Automated Surface Observation System, located about 20 nautical miles southwest, recorded at 1756: wind 260 degrees at 9 knots; temperature 27 degrees Celsius; dew point 16 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting, 30.06 inches of mercury. The relative humidity at the time of accident was 51 percent. Airport information indicates the following obstructions for runway 10: 70 foot trees, 2,117 feet from the runway, 27:1 slope to clear. Obstructions for runway 28 are: 55 foot trees, 1,788 feet from runway, 28:1 slope to clear. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3811L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3811L-2009-04-10), registration cancelled 2009-04-10, S/N 17253980, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172G - Registry model: [Cessna 172G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172g) (registry code 2072420) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17253980 - Airframe hours: 4700 - Engines: Continental O-300-D 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Monarch Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Departed: 6D6, Greenville, MI - Destination: 6D6 - Airport: 6D6, Greenville Municipal Airport, runway 10, 4,200 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 21, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 170 total, 19 in this make and model, 170 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: GRR, 20 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030907024989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030907024989A), Sep 7, 2003: Cessna 172G, Greenville, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed runway 28 but did not have enough power to climb, altitude was lost and aircraft settled into the trees 3/4 mile off the end of 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. --- 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.