# NTSB IAD97LA059: Cessna 172M, N73455, Cincinnati, OH, March 31, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 31, 1997, 08:55 local (13:55 UTC) - Place: Cincinnati, OH - Location: 39.1035° N, 84.5153° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cincinnati, OH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1035&lon=-84.5153&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28183 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD97LA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28183/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA059 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control during takeoff, which resulted in a collision with tree(s) and a ditch. ## 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 - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the initial takeoff roll in a crosswind, he held left aileron control into the crosswind. He took out the correction as the airspeed approached 50 knots in order to rotate. Shortly thereafter, the left wing started to lift, and he applied some aileron and rudder correction. However, the airplane became airborne briefly, veered 30 degrees to the right of the runway, and settled. The pilot attempted to realign the flight path with the runway. Also, he tried to clear a 6 foot tall tree (beside the runway), but the airplane struck the top of the tree, descended, struck a ditch, and then nosed over. At the time of the accident, the wind was reported to be from 330 degrees at 15 gusting 25 knots. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector did not disclose any evidence of mechanical malfunction. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 31, 1997, at 0855 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172M, N73455, was substantially damaged when it veered off the right side of the runway and collided with a ditch during takeoff from the Blue Ash Airport, Cincinnati, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local, personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that during the initial takeoff roll, he held left aileron control into the crosswind. He then took out the correction as the airspeed approached 50 knots, in order to rotate. When the left wing began to lift, he added some rudder and aileron correction, but the airplane became airborne briefly, veered 30 degrees to the right, then settled back on the runway. He stated that his ground speed was about 60 to 70 mph, and that there was not enough runway left to abort the takeoff. He attempted to clear a 6 foot tall tree, but the airplane struck the tree, descended, collided with a ditch, then nosed over. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Safety Inspector, the pilot reported that during the takeoff roll on runway 6, just before lift off speed, the airplane became airborne. He stated that there was about a 90 degree crosswind, so he corrected with aileron and rudder, but the airplane exited the runway to the right, clipped some bushes, struck a ditch and nosed over. According to the FAA Inspector, the reported winds at the time of the accident were from 330 degrees at 15 knots, with wind gusts to 25 knots. The FAA Inspector also reported that examination of the airplane did not disclose any evidence of mechanical malfunction. The pilot reported that when he obtained a weather briefing, the winds were 360 degrees at 10 to 15 knots, but he observed the winds to be actually about 340 degrees varying to occasionally about 320 degrees, a quartering tailwind for runway 6. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N73455](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N73455), registered now, S/N 17267473, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17267593 - Airframe hours: 5090 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rodney G Gibbons - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 30, 1996, 21 hours before - Departed: I77 - Airport: I77, Blue Ash, runway 6, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 303 total, 156 in this make and model, 256 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 15 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LUK, 10 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 19970331010009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970331010009A), Mar 31, 1997: Cessna 172M, Cincinnati, OH, Substantial damage. Lifted premature in crosswind gust on takeoff. Settle. Lifted hit a tree ditch. Nosed over. Had quarter tailwind. (-23) with a direct crosswind from the left,… ## Other investigations on N73455 (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI07CA294](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA294), Sep 5, 2007: Cessna 172M (N73455), Pontiac, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misjudgment of the landing flare and her improper recovery from the bounced landing. 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.