- Date
- October 8, 1996, 18:31 local (22:31 UTC)
- Place
- Ringgold, GA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2286YCessna 177
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 18, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19961008046739A
- Case key
- 38168
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 see and avoid obstructions during takeoff.
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 pilot stated while maneuvering on initial takeoff climb from an open field the left wing collided with trees and the airplane crashed into terrain.
Factual narrative
On October 8, 1996, a Cessna 177, N2286Y, registered to St. Clairs Stateline Inc., operated by Aviation Specialist Inc., as a 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight, crashed on takeoff from an open field in the vicinity of Ringgold, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot reported minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated he had made a forced landing in the open field earlier in the day after experiencing a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Fuel was brought to the forced landing area and added to the fuel tanks. He started the airplane, completed an engine run up and departed. He used 3/4 of the available open field before becoming airborne. He started a left turn and the left wing tip collided with trees and crashed into the terrain.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2286Y
- Reported as
- Cessna 177
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17700086
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Operator
- Aviation Specialist Inc
- Registered owner
- St. Clair Stateline Gro Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Departed
- NONE
- Destination
- 3M3 · Collegedale, TN
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
- 28
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 727 total · 24 in this make and model · 560 as pilot in command · 228 in the last 90 days · 78 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CHA
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.