# NTSB MIA85LA154: Cessna 172N, N739DA, Fort Myers, FL, April 22, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 22, 1985, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Fort Myers, FL
- Coordinates: 26.55956, -81.869354 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5596&lon=-81.8694&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31389
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85LA154
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31389/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA154

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, takeoff - roll/run
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - wind information - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - rotation - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - anxiety/apprehension, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

PLT STATED THAT ON TAKEOFF GROUND RUN FROM A TURF RUNWAY HE FELT SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE NOSE GEAR AND LIFTED IT OFF THE GROUND. AS HE DID HE THOUGHT HE FELT A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AN ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT COULD BE STOPPED IT OVERRAN THE RUNWAY INTO THE GULF OF MEXICO. POST CRASH INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFTS NOSE GEAR AND ENGINE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRECRASH MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE AIRPORT OPERATOR STATED THAT THE WINDS WERE OUT OF THE WEST AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND THAT THE FLIGHT DEPARTED TO EAST. WIND WERE APPROXIMATELY 10 KNOTS, AND THIS WOULD HAVE GIVEN THE FLIGHT A 10 KNOT TAILWIND AT DEPARTURE. PROPER SOFTFIELD TAKEOFF TECHNIQUE WAS NOT USED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N739DA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N739DA-1986-01-23), registration cancelled 1986-01-23, S/N 17270450 (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: 17270450
- Airframe hours: 1694
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Douglas R. Reich
- Registered owner: First Flight Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, January 2, 1985, 18 hours before
- Destination: FMY, FORT MYERS, FL
- Airport: 4X2, Seair, runway 9, 2,200 × 65 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 108 total, 108 in this make and model, 28 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,100 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: FMY, 15 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850422014099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850422014099A), Apr 22, 1985: Cessna 172N, Ft Myers, FL, Substantial damage. Aborted takeoff after raising nose wheel due to shimmy. Thought he had a power loss. Ran off runway end into gulf.

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.

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