# NTSB LAX93LA284: Cessna 172N, N75901, Alturus, CA, July 9, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 9, 1993, 13:25 local (20:25 UTC) - Place: Alturus, CA - Coordinates: 41.430545, -120.529357 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4305&lon=-120.5294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28422 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA284 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28422/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA284 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. THE PILOT'S PREMATURE ROTATION AND HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES IN THE AIRPLANE FLIGHT MANUAL REGARDING USE OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL, THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITION AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPEREINCE WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - rotation - premature, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed(vr) - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - abort - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - ditch - object - fence ## Analysis The pilot said he was departing the Alturus municipal airport, which has an elevation of 4,375 feet MSL. The official weather observation for the airport reported a temperature of 83 degrees 20 minutes after the accident, for a computed density altitude of 7,100 feet. The pilot noted that the engine ran smoothly during the takeoff ground roll, but did not seem to reach full RPM. He said that at about 50 knots he rotated the nose of the aircraft and it climbed about 10 feet, then settled back onto the pavement. The pilot noted that he attempted several times to lift off the runway, but the aircraft would not climb off of the pavement. The pilot stated that he then aborted the takeoff, over ran the departure end of the runway and collided with a ditch and a fence. The flight manual for the aircraft states that the mixture should be leaned for takeoff at fields with elevations above 3,000 feet. The rotation speed specified in the flight manual for a normal takeoff is 55 knots. ## Factual narrative On July 9, 1993, at 1325 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N75901, collided with a ditch during an on ground takeoff runway over run at the Alturus municipal airport, Alturus, California. The aircraft was operated by Executive Flyers, Inc., of Sacramento, California, and was rented by the pilot for a cross country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and included calm winds. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. Neither the certificated private pilot nor his one passenger were injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident as a cross country personal flight to Sacramento, California. According to oral and written statements by the pilot, he said he was departing on the 3,600 foot long runway 21 at the Alturus municipal airport, which has an elevation of 4,375 feet MSL. The pilot noted that the engine ran smoothly during the takeoff ground roll, but did not seem to reach full RPM. He said that at about 50 knots he rotated the nose of the aircraft and it climbed about 10 feet, then settled back onto the pavement. The pilot noted that he attempted several times to lift off the runway, but the aircraft would not climb off of the pavement. The pilot stated that he then aborted the takeoff, over ran the departure end of the runway and collided with a ditch and a fence. Based on an official weather observation taken for the National Weather Service at Alturus, the temperature was recorded as 83 degrees about 20 minutes after the accident. The density altitude was computed at about 7,100 feet. The Airplane Flight Manual for the aircraft states that the mixture should be leaned prior to takeoff at fields with elevations above 3,000 feet. The rotation speed listed in the flight manual for normal takeoff's is 55 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N75901](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75901-1994-02-03), registration cancelled 1994-02-03, S/N 17268026 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17268026 - Airframe hours: 2868 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Executive Flyers, Inc. - Registered owner: Howard Anderson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 1993, 30 hours before - Departed: O00 - Destination: SAC, SACRAMENTO, CA - Airport: O00, Alturus Municipal, runway 21, 3,460 × 60 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--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 109 total, 39 in this make and model, 54 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: O00 ## 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 19930709023059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930709023059A), Jul 9, 1993: Cessna 172N, Alturas, CA, Substantial damage. On takeoff settled back to runway several times. Aborted. Overran runway into ditch. Failed lean for altitude. 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.