# NTSB FTW87LA052: Cessna 172P, N98816, Fort Worth, TX, February 1, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 1, 1987, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Fort Worth, TX
- Coordinates: 32.529525, -97.320449 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5295&lon=-97.3204&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 March 21, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22321
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87LA052
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22321/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87LA052

## 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
  - wind information - disregarded, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper climb rate - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vlof) - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - rotation - premature, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (cause)
  - inadequate transition/upgrade training, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll

## Analysis

PRIVATE PILOT IN CESSNA 172P WITH THREE PASSENGERS ABOARD ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF WITH 60 DEGREE, 9 KNOT CROSS-WIND COMPONENT. PILOT ROTATED AIRCRAFT PREMATURELY CAUSING STALL WARNING HORN TO ACTIVATE AND AIRSPEED TO DISSIPATE. PILOT LOWERED NOSE OF AIRCRAFT IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN AIRSPEED. AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO LOSE ALTITUDE. PILOT FAILED TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION TO COMPENSATE FOR CROSS-WIND AND ALLOWED AIRCRAFT TO DRIFT OFF RUNWAY AND IMPACT THE GROUND AND A FENCE CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT AND PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. PILOT HAD ONE HOUR OF DUAL INSTRUCTION IN ACCIDENT MAKE AND MODEL AND TOTAL OF 2 HOURS IN MAKE AND MODEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N98816 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17276361
- Airframe hours: 802
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: K & S Classics, doing business as Oak Grove Flying School
- Registered owner: George B. Blesse
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 14, 1987, 39 hours before
- Airport: F72, Oak Grove, runway 17, 3,500 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 91 total, 2 in this make and model, 42 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FTW, 27 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 19870201002009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870201002009A), Feb 1, 1987: Cessna 172P, Ft Worth, TX, Substantial damage. The aircraft failed to climb after takeoff. Drifted off runway and struck a fence. Pilot had no crosswind practice.

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.