- Date
- August 2, 1998, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place
- Tuskegee, AL
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N7884UCessna 172F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report August 27, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980802019229A
- Case key
- 43565
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed, and his failure to abort the takeoff.
Analysis
The airplane had taken off to the north, on a runway that slopes upward, with power lines as an obstruction at the departure end of the runway. The turf runway was 1800 feet long. As the airplane started to climb, the landing gear struck the power lines, the airplane fell to the ground, caught on fire and burned. The pilot stated that he usually takes off to the south, but a 'tailwind' caused him to takeoff to the north. He further stated he started his takeoff run and the airplane '...didn't gain speed like it should have. He said he 'should have stopped [the] takeoff, [but] waited too late. Rotated with too low a airspeed, could not clear power lines, cut wire and went into trees.' In addition, the pilot told the FAA that he did not have any engine problems.
Factual narrative
On August 2, 1998, about 1845 central daylight time, a Cessna 172F, N7884U, registered to a private individual, crashed near Tuskegee, Alabama, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions were reported and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed. The private-rated pilot and one passenger reported minor injuries. The flight was originating from a private airstrip at the time.
The airplane had taken off to the north, on a runway that slopes upward, with power lines as an obstruction at the departure end of the runway. As the airplane started to climb, the landing gear struck the power lines, the airplane fell to the ground, caught on fire and burned. The pilot stated that he usually takes off to the south, but a "tailwind" caused him to takeoff to the north. He further stated he started his takeoff run and the airplane "...didn't gain speed like it should have. [I] should have stopped [the] takeoff, waited too late. Rotated with too low a airspeed, could not clear power lines, cut wire and went into trees." In addition, the pilot told the FAA that he did not have any engine problems.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7884U
- Reported as
- Cessna 172F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17251884
- Airframe hours
- 2,158
- Engine
- Continental O-300C, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- John T. Sistrunk
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 29, 1998 · 1 hours before
- Airport
- runway 36, 1,800 × 100 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
- 61
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 755 total · 250 in this make and model · 15 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 50° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- AUO, 3 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.