- Date
- May 10, 2008, 23:30 local (May 11, 2008, 04:30 UTC)
- Place
- Brookshire, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N3870RCessna 172H
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20080510833649A
- Case key
- 68007
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 decision to duck under marked transmission lines and his failure to maintain clearance from the fence. Contributing to the accident was the marked transmission lines.
Findings · 5
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 unqualified private pilot was practicing visual approaches and landings on a dark night. On his fourth or fifth pattern, the airplane was taking off following a full-flap touch-and- go when it struck a fence and impacted in a field past the departure end of the runway. The pilot stated he landed about one-third down the 4,100 foot runway and the roll out was longer than normal, but elected to attempt another approach. During climb out the pilot saw the orange marker balls on the power lines off the departure end of the runway, realized he could not clear them, and was attempting to dive under the wires when the airplane struck the fence. The pilot also stated the airplane was operating normally at the time of the accident and there were no engine or flight control malfunctions. Examination of the airplane revealed the right wing spar was bent upward. The pilot had not completed a biannual flight review within the past 24 months and did not meet currency requirements for carrying passengers as required by Federal Aviation Regulations.
Factual narrative
The private pilot was practicing visual approaches and landings on a dark night with one non-rated passenger. On his fourth or fifth pattern, the airplane was taking off following a full-flap touch and go when it struck a fence and impacted in a field past the departure end of the runway. The pilot stated he landed about one-third down the 4,100 foot runway and the roll out was longer than normal, but elected to attempt another approach. During climb out the pilot saw the orange marker balls on the power lines off the departure end of the runway, realized he could not clear them, and was attempting to dive under the wires when the airplane struck the fence. The pilot also stated the airplane was operating normally at the time of the accident and there were no engine or flight control malfunctions. Examination of the airplane revealed the right wing spar was bent upward.
Information provided by the pilot on the Pilot/Operator Accident/Incident Report shows the pilot's last flight review was 1 April, 2006. Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 61.56 states a pilot must accomplish a flight review within 24 months of their last flight review in order to act as pilot in command. According to Federal Aviation Administration officials, the pilot failed to meet the currency requirements for carrying passengers as stated in Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 61.57(a)1 and 61.57(b)1.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3870R
- Reported as
- Cessna 172H
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17255370
- Airframe hours
- 2,762
- Engine
- Continental O-300, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- First Takeoff, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 1, 2008
- Departed
- Brookshire, TX
- Airport
- 27XS · Sports Flyer Estates, runway 17, 4,100 × 150 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
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 500 total · 75 in this make and model · 450 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- Calm
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.