- Date
- May 13, 2017, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- De Pere, WI
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N42588Reims Cessna FR172
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 5, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170513004599A
- Case key
- 95169
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 failure to maintain directional control during takeoff with a tailwind.
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 pilot reported that, during takeoff from a grass airstrip, she applied full power and pulled back on the yoke for a soft- and short-field takeoff. She added that, after the nose came off the ground, a wind gust pushed the airplane to the left. The airplane "straddled a drainage ditch until the nose wheel caught on something," and the airplane came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, right wing lift strut, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located about 7 miles north of the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 320° at 11 knots. The airplane was departing from runway 18.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during takeoff from a grass airstrip, she applied full power and pulled back on the yoke for a soft-field and short-field takeoff. She added that after the nose came off the ground a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the left. The airplane "straddled a drainage ditch until the nose wheel caught on something" and the airplane came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, right wing lift strut, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A review of recorded data from the automated weather observation station located about 7 miles to the north about the time of the accident reported that the wind was 320° at 11 knots. The airplane was departing runway 18.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N42588
- Reported as
- Reims Cessna FR172 (F)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 0142
- Built
- 1969
- Airframe hours
- 3,561.4
- Engine
- Continental IO-360-DB, 210 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 14, 2017
- Departed
- 9WS2 · De Pere, WI
- Destination
- RYV · Watertown, WI
- Airport
- 9WS2 · Antique Aerodrome, runway 18, 2,200 × 65 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- Auto-pilot, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 10, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 120.1 total · 120.1 in this make and model · 52 as pilot in command · 8.8 in the last 90 days · 3.4 in the last 30 days · 2.5 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot-rated passenger
- Age
- 63
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 4-point
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.77 inHg
- Observed at
- KGRB, 7 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 14, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.5 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.