- Date
- March 18, 2000, 15:40 local (23:40 UTC)
- Place
- Sacramento, CA
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N80205Cessna 172M
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 17, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000318008799A
- Case key
- 48839
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 failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the aircraft during the takeoff roll. A rough, uneven runway surface was a factor in the accident.
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
The pilot reported that, as the aircraft was lifting off the runway during takeoff, it settled back to the ground and veered to the left off the runway. The pilot applied wheel braking and the aircraft flipped inverted. The pilot cited poor runway condition and loose gravel as a factor in the accident. The surface wind was from the right, rear of the aircraft at 6 knots. An FAA airworthiness inspector examined the aircraft and reported that he did not observe any mechanical irregularities.
Factual narrative
On March 18, 2000, at 1540 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 172M, N80205, was substantially damaged when the aircraft veered off runway 34 into rough terrain during takeoff at Natomas Field, Sacramento, California. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by Sacramento Aero Services. The private certificated pilot and three passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area personal flight. No flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that, as the aircraft was lifting off the runway during takeoff, it settled back to the ground and veered to the left off the runway. The pilot applied wheel braking and the aircraft flipped inverted. The pilot cited poor runway condition and loose gravel as a factor in the accident.
An airworthiness inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration Sacramento Flight Standards District Office examined the aircraft after the accident. The inspector reported that he did not observe anything mechanically wrong with the aircraft that contributed to the accident.
NTSB form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, was sent to the pilot on March 23, 2000, April 26, 2000, and June 27, 2000. Voicemail messages were left April 26th and June 14th. The report was received from the pilot on July 10, 2000.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N80205
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17266444
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Sacramento Aero Services
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Q96
- Airport
- Q96 · Natomas Field, runway 34, 2,700 × 30 ft, asphalt
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
- 27
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 980 total · 700 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SAC, 8 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.