# NTSB DFW08CA003: Cessna 172N, N5260J, Oxford, MS, October 7, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 6, 2007, 19:35 local (Oct 7, 2007, 00:35 UTC) - Place: Oxford, MS - Coordinates: 34.384445, -89.536941 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3844&lon=-89.5369&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 66842 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08CA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66842/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08CA003 ## Probable cause The pilots inadvertent stall during takeoff. A contributing factor was his failure to calculate the aircraft gross weight prior to the flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command - aircraft weight and balance - not calculated, pilot in command (contributing factor) - improper decision, pilot in command - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The private pilot lost control of the single-engine airplane during the initial climb after taking off from Runway 09. The pilot, stated on the NTSB Form 6120.1 (Pilot/Operator Accident/Incident Report) that as he initiated the takeoff roll from the 5,600-foot long, by 100-foot wide asphalt runway, the airplane "felt a little wobbly" and seemed "a little slow in accelerating" and he considered aborting the takeoff. The 483-hour pilot, who reported having accumulated 302-hours in this make and model, further stated that he noticed that his indicated airspeed during the initial climb was 45 to 50 knots. The pilot added that the airplane stalled while he initiated a left turn to avoid trees at departure end of the runway. Weight and balance was calculated by the pilot after the flight. He reported that the flight was 132 pounds over the maximum gross weight. The airplane impacted the trees in a nose down attitude and came to rest in the upright position. The airframe sustained structural damage. At 1953, weather reported at the nearest airport 39 miles to the north east, was winds from 120 degrees at 05 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear skies, temperature 28 degrees Celsius, dew point 18 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.02 inches of Mercury. ## Factual narrative The private pilot lost control of the single-engine airplane during the initial climb after taking off from Runway 09. The pilot, stated on the NTSB Form 6120.1 (Pilot/Operator Accident/Incident Report) that as he initiated the take off roll from the 5,600-foot long, by 100-foot wide asphalt runway, the airplane "felt a little wobbly" and seemed "a little slow in accelerating" and he considered aborting the take-off. The 483-hour pilot, who reported having accumulated 302-hours in this make and model, further stated that he noticed that his indicated airspeed during the initial climb was 45 to 50 knots. The pilot added that the airplane stalled while he initiated a left turn to avoid trees at departure end of the runway. Weight and balance was calculated by the pilot after the flight. He reported that the flight was 132 pounds over the maximum gross weight. The airplane impacted the trees in a nose down attitude and came to rest in the upright position. The airframe sustained structural damage. At 1953, weather reported at the nearest airport 39 miles to the north east, was winds from 120 degrees at 05 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear skies, temperature 28 degrees Celsius, dew point 18 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.02 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5260J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5260J-2013-04-02), registration cancelled 2013-04-02, S/N 17273748, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17273748 - Airframe hours: 2788 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2007 - Departed: KUOX, Oxford, MS - Destination: KHKS, Jackson, MS - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KUOX, University of Oxford Airport, runway 9, 5,600 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 483 total, 302 in this make and model, 378 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 120° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KTUP ## 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 20071006824649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071006824649A), Oct 6, 2007: Cessna 172N, Oxford, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) After departing on runway 9 at University-Oxford Airport (uox) in Mississippi, the aircraft banked to the left and impacted the tree line that was north… 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.