- Date
- January 31, 1995, 12:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place
- Mountain View, AR
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2610LCessna 172H
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 29, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950131000959A
- Case key
- 19346
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 selection of a downwind runway for takeoff, his failure to use all available runway, and delay in aborting the takeoff. A factor was the tailwind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
A pilot was attempting to depart from an abandoned grass airstrip which was 4,500 feet long. The pilot reported that he used 2,400 feet for the takeoff and that the acceleration was poor due to tall wet grass. He decided to abort the takeoff when he was within 600 feet of the end of the airstrip. The airplane went off the end of the strip, crossed a ditch, and impacted trees at the departure end. A 10 to 20 knot tailwind prevailed at the time of the accident.
Factual narrative
On January 31, 1995, at 1215 central standard time, a Cessna 172H, N2610L, was substantially damaged during takeoff, near Mountain View, Arkansas. The private pilot sustained serious injuries, while his passenger was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight. According to the pilot, he completed a full stop landing at an abandoned grass airstrip and taxied back for takeoff from a point approximately 2,400 feet from the departure end of the strip. Takeoff roll was initiated to the northeast using a short field takeoff technique. The pilot stated that acceleration was poor due to the tall wet grass. The strip was 4,500 feet long At a point approximately 1,800 feet from the point of takeoff, the pilot elected to abort the takeoff after it became apparent to him that he was not going to become airborne and clear the trees at the departure end. The pilot stated that he utilized maximum braking to stop the airplane and attempted to intentionally ground loop the airplane.
The airplane continued straight ahead, crossed a ditch, and impacted trees at the departure end of the airstrip. In the recommendation block of the enclosed NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that "pilots must always be aware of wind speed and direction even at outlying fields where there is no wind sock or indicator."
A local resident reported that a 15 to 20 knot tailwind prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported the winds from 200 degrees at 10 knots, while the nearest weather reporting station reported the winds from 230 degrees at 7 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2610L
- Reported as
- Cessna 172H
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17255810
- Airframe hours
- 3,079
- Engine
- Continental O-300-D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Bullard, Jimmy H.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 5, 1994 · 70 hours before
- Airport
- None, runway 4, 4,500 × 100 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
- 50
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 185 total · 185 in this make and model · 130 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2610L · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.