- Date
- May 13, 2008, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place
- Jamestown, PA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9822TCessna 172A
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20080513839069A
- Case key
- 68018
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 control after takeoff resulting in contact with the ground. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight planning resulting in a takeoff from a short, wet, soft, runway.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot was not aware of the length of the runway, and did not walk/survey the runway prior to the takeoff from the short, wet, soft runway. He used a combination short and soft field takeoff procedures, and after becoming airborne, the "P" factor (left turning tendency) seemed "unusually strong." He applied right aileron and rudder in an attempt to maintain directional control, but the right wing then the nose and left wing contacted the ground. The pilot further stated that there was no preimpact failure or malfunction with the airplane or its systems.
Factual narrative
The pilot was not aware of the length of the runway, and did not walk/survey the runway prior to the takeoff from the short, wet, soft runway. He used a combination short and soft field takeoff procedures, and after becoming airborne, the "P" factor (left turning tendency) seemed "unusually strong." He applied right aileron and rudder in an attempt to maintain directional control, but the right wing then the nose and left wing contacted the ground. The pilot further stated that there was no preimpact failure or malfunction with the airplane or its systems.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9822T
- Reported as
- Cessna 172A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 47622
- Airframe hours
- 2,807.3
- Engine
- Continental O-300-C, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- David W. Richerson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 2007
- Departed
- Jamestown, PA
- Airport
- runway 18, 1,500 × 60 ft, grass/turf
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
- 43
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 1, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 104 total · 103 in this make and model · 65 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.09 inHg
- Observed at
- GKJ, 14 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.