# NTSB FTW95LA057: Cessna 172, N7099A, Lawton, OK, November 30, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 30, 1994, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Lawton, OK - Coordinates: 34.799991, -98.629768 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8000&lon=-98.6298&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 18, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19314 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19314/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA057 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED DURING TAKEOFF RESULTING IN A STALL. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE DOWNWIND RUNWAY AND HIS FAILURE TO USE ALL AVAILABBLE RUNWAY. ## 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 - weather condition - tailwind - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - all available runway - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed(vr) - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE PRIVATE PILOT, ON A LOCAL FLIGHT TOOK OFF WITH A QUARTERING TAIL WIND OF 13 KNOTS, UP-HILL, USING ONLY HALF THE AVAILABLE GRASS RUNWAY. FOLLOWING CLIMB OUT TO 15 OR 20 FEET, THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND HARD, NOSE GEAR FIRST, SEPARATING THE NOSE GEAR FROM THE AIRCRAFT. ## Factual narrative On November 30, 1994, at 1130 central standard time, a Cessna 172, N7099A, was substantially damaged during takeoff from Cunningham Field near Lawton, Oklahoma. The private certificated pilot received minor injuries and his passenger was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight. During an interview conducted by a Federal Aviation Administrator Inspector, the pilot reported landing the airplane on a 2,600 feet long grass private airfield. He landed into the wind, on runway 17. He turned around at midfield and took off up-hill on runway 35 with a tailwind. Winds were reported by the Lawton, Oklahoma, Flight Service Station to be 220 degrees at 13 gusting to 15 knots. Cessna performance manuals indicate that under these conditions the airplane could clear a 50 foot obstacle in 1,083 feet. In the initial interview the pilot reported that he landed the plane to the south, stopped about midfield, turned around and started his ground roll for takeoff to the north. Later, in his written report, he says that he taxied to the end of runway 17 for his departure to the north. The pilot said that during takeoff the ground was going by him faster than normal and he became aware of the power lines at the end of the field. He further stated that the aircraft broke ground and climbed to 15 or 20 feet, then "started to sink fast" descending back to the ground. He reported that the airplane "landed on the nose wheel hard", breaking off the nose wheel and sliding to a stop. Additional reports on the air frame and engine are enclosed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7099A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7099A-1996-06-07), registration cancelled 1996-06-07, S/N 29199 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172) (registry code 2072402) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 29199 - Airframe hours: 3614 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sanders, George P. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 3, 1994 - Airport: 4F3, Cunningham (Jerry Wright), runway 35, 2,600 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 277 total, 193 in this make and model, 194 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 13 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 45 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LAW, 6 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 19941130040079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941130040079A), Nov 30, 1994: Cessna 172, Lawton, OK, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Landed into wind downhill. Turned around tried to takeoff downwind and upslope. Lifted. Settled off end runway. 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.