- Date
- April 23, 1987, 17:50 local (22:50 UTC)
- Place
- Moorhead, IA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3777SCessna 172E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 16, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870423010869A
- Case key
- 34370
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
According to FAA statements, the pilot was attempting a takeoff from a taxiway when a wing dipped. The pilot then lost control as the wing dragged, causing the aircraft to ground loop/swerve onto the terrain. The nose gear tire blew during the swerve and the nose gear assembly collapsed before the aircraft came to a stop. The tail section of the airplane was also damaged, as well as the wing tips. The pilot did not respond to inquiries about 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
According to FAA statements, the pilot was attempting a takeoff from a taxiway when a wing dipped. The pilot then lost control as the wing dragged, causing the aircraft to ground loop/swerve onto the terrain. The nose gear tire blew during the swerve and the nose gear assembly collapsed before the aircraft came to a stop. The tail section of the airplane was also damaged, as well as the wing tips. The pilot did not respond to inquiries about the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3777S
- Reported as
- Cessna 172E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17250977
- Engine
- Continental O-300-D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Park M. Blaine
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Airport
- 4IA5 · Rose Field
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
- 35
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 600 total · 50 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- OMA, 37 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.
Other investigations on N3777S · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.