- Date
- June 10, 1995, 08:20 local (15:20 UTC)
- Place
- Big Bear, CA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N739NNCessna 172N
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 29, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950610016379A
- Case key
- 29208
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 an aborted takeoff attempt, which was necessitated by his failure to properly lean the fuel mixture. The pilot's limited experience in small piston engine airplanes 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 operator stated that no mechanical malfunctions or failures were identified or claimed by the pilot. The pilot attempted a touch and go at the mountain resort airport and touched down in the first third of the runway. He applied full power, retracted the flaps, and set the mixture control to full rich. During the ground roll, the pilot decided that insufficient runway remained to complete the takeoff and he aborted. The aircraft veered off the runway and collided with a drainage ditch. The Big Bear airport is at 6,748 feet mean sea level, and the runway is 5,850 feet long. The density was estimated at 8,900 feet. The pilot is a military aviator assigned to fly large turbine powered helicopters. He has limited experience with small piston engine airplanes.
Factual narrative
On June 10, 1995, at 0820 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N739NN, collided with ground obstructions following a loss of directional control during a rejected takeoff attempt at the Big Bear, California, airport. The aircraft was operated by the El Toro Marine Aero Club, MCAS El Toro, California, and was rented by the pilot for a personal cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and included calm wind conditions. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot and two passengers were not injured. The flight originated from MCAS El Toro on the day of the accident at 0730. The accident was reported to the Safety Board on August 17, 1995.
The operator's completed written accident report stated that no mechanical malfunctions or failures were identified or claimed by the pilot. The pilot attempted a touch and go at the Big Bear airport and touched down in the first third of the runway. He applied full power, retracted the flaps, and set the mixture control to full rich. During the ground roll, the pilot decided that insufficient runway remained to complete the takeoff and he aborted. The pilot lost directional control, veered off the runway, and collided with a drainage ditch.
The Big Bear airport is at 6,748 feet mean sea level, and the runway is 5,580 feet long. The density was estimated at 8,900 feet.
The pilot is a military aviator assigned to fly large turbine powered helicopters. He has limited experience with small piston engine airplanes.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N739NN
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17270675
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- El Toro Marine Aero Club
- Registered owner
- Marie Hoefer
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 1, 1995 · 43 hours before
- Departed
- NZJ · Mcas El Toro, CA
- Destination
- L35
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- L35 · Big Bear City, runway 26, 5,850 × 75 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
- 26
- Certificates
- Military, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 565 total · 15 in this make and model · 333 as pilot in command · 70 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.