- Date
- May 30, 1992, 18:00 local (May 31, 1992, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Safford, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N4163LCessna 172L
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 28, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920530020689A
- Case key
- 27648
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 airplane colliding with animals which ran on to the runway during the pilot's takeoff roll. A factor in this accident was the pilot not being able to take remedial action and avoid the animals.
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
In his written statement, the pilot said he applied full power for takeoff. He stated that after the power was applied and he was about a third of the way down the private airstrip, a herd of cattle started running toward the runway. He said he immediately pulled the power back and swerved to miss the cattle. He further stated that the cattle continued to run toward the airplane. He hit three of the cows. He said he stopped the airplane and turned all systems off.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4163L
- Reported as
- Cessna 172L
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17254252
- Airframe hours
- 4,132
- Engine
- Continental O-300-D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Safford Aviation Service, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Safford Aviation Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 1, 1992
- Departed
- NONE
- Destination
- SAD
- Airport
- NONE · Double Circle Ranch
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
- 19
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 240 total · 206 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °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 N4163L · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.