# NTSB NYC03LA091: Cessna 172K, N758XB, Burnham, PA, April 27, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 27, 2003, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Burnham, PA - Coordinates: 40.645278, -77.555274 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6453&lon=-77.5553&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56903 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56903/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA091 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The student pilot preflighted the airplane, boarded, and started the engine. After completing the engine runup checks, he taxied onto the runway, and initiated the takeoff roll. As he applied full power, the airplane yawed left, departed the left side of the runway, and struck several trees before coming to a stop. The pilot did not experience any preimpact failures with the airplane, and stated that he just "lost control." ## Factual narrative On April 27, 2003, about 1830 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172K, N758XB, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees during the takeoff roll at the Mc Cardle Farm Airport (PS11), Burnham, Pennsylvania. The student pilot was not injured, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight. A flight plan was not filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the student pilot, he preflighted the airplane, boarded, and started the engine. After completing the engine runup checks, he taxied onto runway 5, which was turf, 1,800 feet long and 100 feet wide, and initiated the takeoff roll. As he applied full power, the airplane yawed left, departed the left side of the runway, went down an embankment, and struck several trees before coming to a stop. The pilot secured the engine and exited. The pilot added that he did not experience any preimpact failures with the airplane, and that he "lost control" during the takeoff roll. The student's last 90-day endorsement was approximately 1 year before the accident. He flew between 5 to 10 hours a year, and had a total flight experience of 130 hours. The pilot had 21 hours in the accident airplane make and model, with the majority of his flying being at the accident airport. His last flight was in October 2002, he flew about 1 hour, and completed five takeoff and landings at the accident airport. The pilot's last third-class medical certificate was dated October 30, 2001. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N758XB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N758XB), registered now, S/N R1723431, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172K - Registry model: [Cessna R172K](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-r172k) (registry code 2072431) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R17223431 - Airframe hours: 705 - Engines: Continental IO-360 195 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Guy R. Mc Cardle - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 7, 2003, 0 hours before - Departed: PS11, Burnham, PA - Destination: PS11 - Airport: PS11, Mc Cardle Farm, runway 5, 1,800 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 130 total, 21 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: UNV, 18 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 20030427017669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030427017669A), Apr 27, 2003: Cessna R172K, Burnham, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 27, 2003, at 1830 hours, a Cessna 172, N758XB, registered to guy r. mccardle, crashed during takeoff from mccardle's farm field (PS11) while on… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.